How can we ensure our beliefs align with those "planted by My Father"? The Root of the Question Matthew 15:13 lays the foundation: “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” Jesus draws a sharp contrast between truths God plants and ideas He has not. The study that follows explores how to cultivate only what God Himself has sown in our hearts and minds. Recognizing God-Planted Beliefs • They agree with the whole counsel of Scripture—never contradicting any passage (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • They exalt Christ as Savior and Lord (John 15:5; Colossians 2:6-7). • They produce the Spirit’s fruit—love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). • They endure testing and persecution without withering (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). • They draw us toward holiness, not away from it (1 Peter 1:15-16). Testing Beliefs Against Scripture 1. Open the Word daily “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). 2. Compare teaching to clear passages • Isaiah 8:20—“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” • Acts 17:11—The Bereans were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” 3. Examine fruit and root • Hebrews 4:12—God’s Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” • If a doctrine breeds pride, division, or moral compromise, it is suspect (Matthew 7:17-20). 4. Seek wise, faithful counsel • Proverbs 11:14—“Victory is won through many counselors.” • Ephesians 4:11-16—Teachers and pastors equip us “so we may no longer be infants, tossed by the waves.” Practices That Keep Us Rooted • Memorize and meditate on Scripture (Psalm 1:2-3). • Keep short accounts with God—confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9). • Participate in a Bible-preaching church (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Guard your intake—books, podcasts, music, and media (Philippians 4:8). • Pray for discernment (Philippians 1:9-10). • Obey promptly; truth applied takes deeper root (James 1:22-25). Common Weeds to Watch For • Human traditions elevated above God’s commands (Mark 7:8-9). • “New revelations” that add to or revise Scripture (Revelation 22:18-19). • Teachings that promise salvation without repentance and faith (Luke 13:3; John 3:16, 36). • Philosophies that make man the center instead of Christ (Colossians 2:8). • Messages that downplay sin, hell, or Christ’s exclusivity (John 14:6). Encouragement for the Journey Jesus promises, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has planted” will thrive (cf. John 15:1-8). As we saturate ourselves with His Word, submit to His Spirit, and stay connected to His people, He faithfully uproots every false belief and deepens every true one—until our hearts, like well-watered gardens, display only what the Father has lovingly sown. |
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