Easily Deceived

"Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,

bow as they are lowered to the ground.

They are being hauled away on ox carts.

The poor beasts stagger under the weight.

Bot the idols and their owners are bowed down.

The gods cannot protect the people,

and the people cannot protect the gods.

They go off into captivity together.

Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,

all you who remain in Israel.

I have cared for you since you were born.

Yes, I carried you before you were born.

I will be your God throughout your lifetime--

until your hair is white with age.

I made you, and I will care for you.

I will carry you along and save you.

To whom will you compare me?

Who is my equal?"

Isaiah 46:1-5 NLT

I get caught up in worldly mindsets without consciously realizing what has happened, bowing to the gods of science and education, tolerance and "love".  I slightly adjust my views, my thinking, until it lines up with popular philosophy.  I'm still a Christian, I mean I still believe in God so everything's okay, right?  Or should I be concerned?  

Impotent.  Whatever I trust in, extol, fight to the death to defend; if it is outside of Jesus Christ it cannot save me.  As good as it may seem, if it's not from God it will do nothing to stop God's discipline, the shaking He allows in order to draw mankind back to Him, the wake-up call necessary to get the attention of those who have fallen asleep, drugged by the world's anesthesia.  I'm a fool to trust in such nonsense.

Yet it makes sense to my mind, easily slipping into my consciousness without detection.  And before I know it I'm believing ignorance is the enemy and education will save us from what ails society without ever considering the impact Jesus Christ can make in the hearts of man.  Or I'm buying into the mindset that love comes in many shapes and sizes and I must be tolerant of the latest deviancy, failing to ever reach out with the Gospel of grace, empowered by True Love.  Or I am caught up in the belief that scientific advances can cure cancer, wipe out world-wide hunger and end global warming instead of getting on my knees and enlisting the help of the One who holds all power in His hands.

Whatever I trust in apart from God is impotent to make any lasting change or bring about salvation.

Faithful.   While I'm off "saving the world," getting caught up in following empty theories or chasing rabbits down meandering trails, God is busy holding all things together, reaching out to the lost and caring for His image-bearers.  Whether or not anyone ever acknowledges it, He is faithful to give life and breath to millions of people.  We depend upon His grace, never being able to think a thought or take a step without Him.  

Yet countless many fail to realize their dependency upon Him.  How many times has He saved, shielded, protected?  How often does He give good, bless, provide?  Still, many think it is by their own hand, due to their own smarts, because of their wise planning that such bounty has entered their lives.  Meanwhile, God continues to care for His children, even those who haven't yet given their lives to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Even if few ever acknowledge so, God is faithful to take care of His creation.

Deception.  In ancient days, people bowed down to Bel, Nebo, Ashtoreth, Molech and Baal.  Many sacrificed to them, giving of their children, their purity, their livelihood, believing such "gifts" would appease the wrath of these gods and deliver them into the good graces of these deities.  Yet they were deceived into believing these impotent gods would somehow make their lives better, bringing meaning and favor into the emptiness of their souls.  Many died waiting for such foolishness.  Today man is more evolved and is all but immune from such idol worship.  Or so goes the common belief.

Yet how many bow down to the god of women's reproductive Rights, the Right to choose, or the Right to her own body and have killed millions of defenseless children as a result?  What about the god of Lust?  Countless bow before it's altar of pornography, both soft and hard, mainstream and sordid, contributing to the explosion of human trafficking and the sex trade.  Then there's the god of Love that we all desire to bow before, leading to a low view of the pure form and the wide acceptance of Gay marriage.  And so we see, nothing has really changed all that much from the days of ancient society.

Mankind has been deceived into idol worship even though no one calls it as such.

It's easy to conform to the thinking of this world, slowly drifting away from God's best for me and His ongoing transformation process.  As I do, I risk worshiping other gods, even if I wouldn't label it as such.  I place my trust in the impotent, even though God is the only One with the power to save me and the rest of mankind.  Even if He is never acknowledged as the One who truly cares, He is faithful to hold all things together.  Still, I am easily deceived by the same gods who lured the Israelites away from God.  Yes, I am firmly in God's grip through faith in Jesus Christ, yet I have to admit how easily deceived I am.  I must never forget how much I depend upon His grace, and keep my eyes on Jesus who is always at work perfecting my faith.  It is only in Him that I can stand firm!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stand firm on the Truth.

How do I get sucked into popular mindsets, unintentionally worshiping at an altar I never wanted to bow before?

When am I ignorant of God's faithfulness in my life?  How can I intentionally acknowledge His constancy?  

Who Are You Following?

"Childish leaders oppress my people,

and women rule over them.

O my people, your leaders mislead you;

they send you down the wrong road."

Isaiah 2:13 NLT

As a people, we are headed down the wrong path.  But who is leading us?  I must be careful whom I follow.

Complacency.  I'm pretty good.  I go to school, I don't do drugs, I don't hurt anyone, my life is pretty clean.  Sure I have this habit of looking at porn, but who doesn't?  I mean, it's natural to have these sexual desires.  At least I'm not acting on them.  And so goes the idolatry where I make up a god whose standard fits my lifestyle, justifying my sin no matter what it is in order to give myself a pass.  The problem is, if I were to reach out to a number of leaders in the American church today, I'd probably get a pass from them, too.  There are some sins that have become "acceptable" or at least are not seen as a problem, and others which are frowned upon.  Still, the underlying theme in the modern church is that we do not judge, and it's wrong to "restore that person gently" (Galatians 6:1).

This is the wrong path.  Sin is a serious enough problem that God saw fit to send His own Son to earth in order to die the death sinful mankind deserves to die (1 Peter 2:24).  In order to restore me into right relationship with Him, Jesus gave Himself over to the wickedness of man so that God's righteous justice could be satisfied on my behalf (Romans 3:24-26).  If He went to such lengths to free me from the bond that sin has on me, is it fitting that I give myself over to it again, as if His sacrifice meant nothing to me (Romans 6:12-18)?  Is this not making a mockery of the suffering He underwent on my behalf (Hebrews 10:29)?

I must not let anyone teach me to become complacent when it comes to sin for it contaminates my heart and leads me down the path that leads to destruction.

Compromise.  It sure would be easier just to let go of this one conviction.  If everyone else thinks this way so it can't be all that bad.  What's so wrong with loving another?  Even if it doesn't look like the traditional marriage union? I mean, want love to win.

It's hard to stand firm on Biblical beliefs when the world is painting sin as a loving act.  To challenge this belief, then, gives the impression that I am challenging love itself.  But "love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6) and the truth of God's word clearly defines behavior which is fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).  To compromise with the world on this point, to conform to public opinion in order to keep on majority's good side, is to deny the truth of God's coming judgement.  For each human is "destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). To make friends with any other belief regarding sin is to deny people the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, to their eternal demise.

I must not let anyone lead me to believe that compromise with the world is a good thing, for there are many souls at stake.

Deception.  I don't need to repent, or even confess.  I'm already forgiven by faith in Jesus.  His blood covers my sins, past, present and future.  Therefore, I can walk in freedom knowing that I'm absolved of all guilt.  So goes the deceptive thinking of some believers today.  This gospel appeals to my sin nature because I can live the way I want but still buy into the "fire insurance," giving me the hope of heaven.  But is it truly the Good News Of Jesus Christ?

Simple belief in Jesus does not save me from the condemnation my sins deserve.  This faith must be accompanied by the act of turning away from the sin that separates me from God (Proverbs 28:13).  Sure, the blood of Jesus covers that sin so I can be presented as holy and righteous before Him, but His indwelling Spirit does not abide with continued and willful sin.  It grieves Him when I embrace that which sent Jesus to the cross.  This idea that "my sin is covered so I don't need to worry about sin" is a deceptive belief system that leads me to the wrong path, and I must constantly be on the lookout for it because it is everywhere in this society.  Instead, I must remember I'm a new creation, and not only have I been washed clean, but also set aside for His holy purposes and made right with Him so I could walk by His side (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  To enter back into sinful living is to deny this Holy communion with Him (Romans 13:11-14).

I must not let anyone lead me to believe that sin is not a big deal.

There's not doubt about it, there are many deceptive beliefs floating around within circles of faith.  If I am to stay true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in God's Word, I must not grow complacent, compromise, or fall into deception when it comes to sin.  Since these mind sets are so prevalent today, it is vital that I consider carefully who I follow.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay true to God's Word, letting it be the filter through which I sift all possible beliefs.

When do I buy into something just because it sounds right to me?

How to I give myself and others a pass when it comes to certain sins because they don't seem that bad?    

The Abomination of Unfairness

"A false balance and unrighteous dealings are 

extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord,

but a just weight is His delight."

Proverbs 11:1 AMP

I like to think of myself as a pretty fair and honest person.  Since God feels so strongly about dishonesty and unfairness, however, I had better ask Him if there is a way I tip the scales in my favor (Psalm 139:23-24).  Here are a few possibilities:

Hoard.  His love is never ending and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  My heart is like a spring refreshing me with His flow of living water (John 7:38)  I'm awash in a river of grace (Romans 6:14).  I am so thankful for all the blessings that are mine in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  Yet is it all for me?

I tend to live unfairly when I assume all the good things God is constantly giving me is only for me.  I am meant to exist as a conduit of His love, grace, mercy and goodness to the world around me, letting His blessings flow out to others (Philippians 2:3-4, 2 Corinthians 4:7).  Instead, I tend to hoard them for myself, refusing to cut others a break, or love them where they are, or forgive as I've been forgiven.  

It is my desire to stop hoarding God's blessings for myself and let them flow forth to those around me.

Expecting Understanding.  It seems so obvious to me.  My argument sounds strong and is well-supported with scripture.  I don't see why everyone can't see the Truth, for it's so clear from my viewpoint.  But they don't.  The world criticizes my words supporting marriage as God created it to be, telling me my line of reasoning is flawed.  Or they label me as a misogynist because I speak out in favor of protecting life in the womb, failing to see the value in sheltering the innocent and vulnerable.  Or they claim they don't believe in my God so His laws don't apply to them.  I walk away frustrated, scratching my head in bewilderment.

In reality, I can't expect those without the benefit of God's indwelling Spirit to understand His way of thinking or an un-regenerated mind to grasp the concepts of God's value system.  Jesus rejoiced when considering how His Father revealed the deep things of God to the simple and childlike (Luke 10:21).  It's not those who think they are wise and learned who enter into this higher level of understanding.  Rather, it is those who are broken and needy, weak and at the end of themselves and who come to Jesus in their frailty who have been given the ability to understand.  Since God reveals such riches to me but not yet to the lost, it's not fair for me to expect those who don't yet believe in Jesus to think the same way I do.

It is my desire to remember when dealing with unbelievers that I have an unfair advantage through the Holy Spirit in understanding the things of God.

Rebuke.  I once was the same way, letting my own fleshly desires guide my footsteps, using my own way of thinking to form my opinions, finding my value system from the culture and tradition in which I operated.  Even though I have been rescued from such darkness, I can still remember what it was like.  It's important that I keep my origins in mind when interacting with the lost, otherwise, it's easy to expect the unrighteous to value righteousness.

No one can see the value in living God's way except by the inner workings of God as He changes the heart and mind, transforming it so it lines up more closely with that of Christ (Romans 12:2).  Therefore, I can't expect an unbeliever to see the value in sexual purity, or lifelong marriage commitment, or protecting unborn lives.   We don't share the same moral code.

It is my desire to refrain from rebuking an unbeliever for doing what comes naturally or living by a different set of rules.

While I may think of myself as honest and fair, there are some ways I behave unfairly.  I tend to hoard the good things God gives me instead of pouring the blessings out to others, expect the lost to understand the things of God, and rebuke the not-yet-saved for what is only possible through Christ.  In these ways the scales are tipped in my favor, and I have risked offending God in my attitude of unfairness.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to open up the flow of His goodness to others, believing that He will fill me up again.

When do I place an unfair expectation on the lost to think like I do?

How am I frustrated by the stubbornness of the lost, forgetting that I once was in the same boat?         

Deception

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Exodus 20:16

I thought I could trust him.  His words sounded so good and his promises seemed heartfelt.  I believed him when he said he would do something.  As the months went by, however, it became apparent that this community leader was not what he portrayed himself to be.  Instead, his actions proved that he was prone to lying.

It is hard to deal with a person who does not value the truth.  Not only do I lose my trust in that person, but my respect for them dwindles.  It is most likely that I will never go to that person for help or trust them enough to share my struggles.  Instead, I will keep my distance and consider them with skepticism.

This could be one of the reasons God wants those who are a part of His family through faith in Jesus Christ to prove themselves to be people of their word.  If I treat the truth lightly as an ambassador of Christ,  I am doing damage to the impression of God others hold.  I may not tell an out-and-out lie like my community leader did, but there are ways I deceive in order to get my way or stack the odds in my favor.

Lie of Omission

They had done the unthinkable; the brothers banded together against the younger and sold him into slavery.  As if that weren't bad enough, to cover their tracks the young men splattered the boy's one-of-a-kind robe with goat's blood and sent it to their father, letting him draw his own conclusion. (Genesis 37:26-36)

While I may never go to such lengths to cover up my actions, I am not so different from Jacob's sons.  There are times when my silence speaks louder than my words.  Perhaps I've been cautioned regarding the destructive actions of an acquaintance, but I fail to warn those who will suffer because I don't want to get involved in someone else's business.

Other times I tend to leave out crucial details in an effort to preserve the reputation of myself or someone I love.  Sometimes I may simply remain silent even though telling what I know could shed some light on a situation.

James reminds me the importance of doing what I know to be right.  He says, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." (James 4:17)  When the Spirit of God gently nudges me to warn someone of imminent trouble, reveal all the details of a situation, or speak up, I would be wise to respond to His guidance.  Otherwise, I'm going against God's best for my life.

Even though I may not give false testimony, the things I fail to say are just as damning.

Spin Zone

Politicians and elected leaders are experts at phrasing things in a way that sounds good.  Take a look at some examples from the book, The New Doublespeak: Why No One Knows What Anyone's Saying Anymore by William Lutz:

Meaningful downturn in aggregate output (recession)

After-sales service (kickback)

Resource development park (trash dump)

Temporarily displaced inventory (stolen goods)

Strategic misrepresentation (lie)

There is no doubt that it's hard to tell what many in positions of influence are saying anymore.  Instead of just saying what needs to be said, there is a constant attempt to spin things in a way that benefits the speaker.  We live in a world where killing babies is labeled as, "a woman's reproductive rights," redefining marriage as God created it is presented as, "Gay rights," and promiscuity is labeled as, "sexual freedom."  Let's face it, in this day and age I must read between the lines if I want to know the real story.

In such a world, it is easy for me to follow suit and spin a story to make me appear to be the good guy.  Instead of telling my husband that I didn't have dinner ready on time because I was caught up in social networking, I say I was tying up some loose ends.  Or, my own insecurities could tempt me to opt out of following God's lead into a ministry but I instead say that my schedule is too full to add one more activity.  Or, I may be faced with the dilemma of how to confront one who hurt me.  Instead of owning up to the part I played, however, it's more comfortable to pretend it was all her fault.

Even though I may not give false testimony, I'm pretty good at spinning the truth to make me come out smelling like a rose.

Empty Promises

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you."  These are words that are often uttered after a tragedy, sudden death or disaster of some kind.  As one on the outside, my heart goes out to the victims and I want to comfort.  Often, though, I end up saying things that seem right at the time but turn out to be empty promises.  It's easy to say things to try to comfort someone who is hurting without really meaning what I say.

As a follower of Christ, it is important that I mean what I say.  I have heard it said that, "People who trust God's Word should be people whose word can be trusted."  There is no need for me to swear that I will do what I say if I am known for keeping my word.  (Matthew 5:33-37)  

As someone who takes the truth seriously, then, I had better carefully choose my words.  Instead of making a promise that sounds good at the time, I would be wise to say nothing.  If I don't mean it, I shouldn't say it, even if silence seems awkward.  No promise is better than an empty one.

Even though I may not give false testimony, I often say things I don't mean.

There is more to lying than telling an outright lie.  Sometimes, I commit the lie of omission, am guilty of spinning the truth, or make an empty promise.  When I treat the truth with such disdain, I'm not just ruining my own reputation, but I am also doing damage to the name of the One whom I follow.  Therefore, I must understand that being truthful in every way brings glory to God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can treat the truth as valuable.

When do I spin the truth to make me look good?

How am I guilty of saying something simply to try to make another feel better?