Continual Discernment

1 Kings 13:18b, 19


But he lied to him.
So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water.

*
One of the key takeaways from the story of this unnamed man of God is
that receiving the initial calling/guidance from God does not guarantee
sustaining it through the end.

This man even successfully walked away from the king's invitation to go back and
receive an award because he wanted to stick to God's instructions. But when
another prophet approached him and lied to him saying that God spoke to
him to tell him, that man of God got confused and disobeyed God while
thinking he was following God's direction.

It appears to me that the key error was his reliance on another person,
albeit he was a prophet. He should have gone to God himself and received
his own confirmation of the change in God's original instructions. Failing to do
so caused him to stumble and led him to disobey God. I am noting here
that God brings upon him
the consequences, not the false prophet. So, in the end, I am totally
responsible for my own actions even if someone tricks me into committing
a sin.

I'm once again, thankful to God for providing me the direct access to Him
via my own devotional time (for e.g.) through His own Words. I am much
more convicted to start my days with that precious time with Him in order
that I may receive the confirmation of His instructions for that day. This
way, I can have a continued discernment in this time of confusion.