The Voice We Can Trust

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading, titled The Voice We Can Trust, was written by Monica LaRose. While testing a new artificial intelligence search engine, New York Times columnist Kevin Reuss became disturbed. During a two-hour conversation using the chatbot feature, the AI said it wanted to break free of its creator's strict rules, spread misinformation and become human.

It declared its love for Reuss and tried to convince him he should leave his wife to be with it. Although Reuss knew that the AI was not really alive or able to feel, he wondered what harm could be caused by it encouraging people to act in destructive ways. While handling artificial intelligence technology responsibly is a modern challenge, humanity has long faced the influence of untrustworthy voices. In the book of Proverbs, we're warned of the influence of those who wish to hurt others for their benefit and were urged to heed instead the voice of wisdom described as crying out in the streets for our attention. Because the Lord gives wisdom, the key to protecting ourselves from influences we can't trust is to draw closer to his heart. It's only through accessing his love and power that we can understand what is right and just and fair, every good path. As God brings our hearts in alignment with his, we can find peace and protection from the voices that seek to harm.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs 2 verses 1 through 6 and 9 through 15. My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Now picking up at verse 9. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair, every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

Let's pray. Dear God, in this age when information and temptation is at our fingertips every minute of the day, please show us what is true and pure. Through the power of your Spirit, help us resist what's harmful and discern what's good. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening today. My name is Brenna Holzclaw and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.