阅读经文 

这个月我们默想了关于顺服神这个主题，好使我们能分辨如何按着祂的旨意来生活。在这里，约翰提醒我们，要查验我们听到的话语、声音和信息，看看“是出于神的不是”。

虚假的灵及其错误教导会使我们偏离对神的完全倚赖。但是，当我们面对信仰中的挑战，恒久忍耐时，我们并不孤单，也不应该感到孤单。除了圣经和圣灵之外，我们还有牧师、父母、老师和朋友，他们可以帮助我们“试验那些灵”。神赐予基督徒信仰的团契，好帮助和鼓励我们，反过来，也使我们预备好接受帮助。

要为你的教会领袖祷告，祈求他们成为服侍神子民的忠仆。为了耶稣的缘故，让他们花时间等候主满有智慧的引领。当需要做出决定时，请与你的家人一起祷告。为学校的行政人员和老师们祷告，愿他们在教学过程中，引导孩子时能遵行耶稣的教导。也为政府和领导人祷告，他们本是被神赋予权力来领导特定的地区和领域。

不要忘记，我们的神是万有之主，耶稣是看不见之神的像。在祂面前要谦卑，要结出圣灵的果子来尊崇主，使祂得荣耀。

This month we have reflected on submitting to God so that we can discern how to live by his will. And here John helps us remember that we need to test all the words and voices and messages we hear "to see whether they are from God."

False spirits and their false teachings can cause us to stray from fully depending on God. But we do not stand alone—nor should we—as we face the challenges of persevering in the faith. Alongside the Bible and the Holy Spirit, we have pastors, parents, teachers, and friends who can help us "test the spirits." Believers in Jesus have been given communities of faith to help and encourage us—and to be ready, in turn, to receive our help as well.

Pray for your church leaders, asking that they will be faithful servants of the Lord's people. Give them time to wait for directions of wisdom from the Lord for Jesus' sake. Pray with your family when decisions need to be made. Pray for school administrators and teachers, asking that they may follow the way of Jesus in their teaching and in guiding children. Pray also for government leaders, appointed by God to lead in their particular areas and regions.

Never forget that our God is Lord over all, and that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Be humble before him and bear the fruit of the Spirit, to his honor and glory.