May 4 – 11, 2024

DECEPTION

John 8:43-44 “‘Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.’”

Another of Satan’s weapons is deception, trying to make us believe things that are not true. The apostle Paul wasn’t oblivious to the enemy. He wrote frankly in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received [from us], or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” To paraphrase: “You don’t fight it! You just fall for it! You allow it!” 

We cannot allow the enemy’s deception in our lives. How do bank tellers discern counterfeit money? The more they know the real thing, the easier it is to identify the counterfeit. The real thing is so ingrained in them that the counterfeit is glaringly obvious. It’s the same with deception. Knowing God’s Word—the real thing—gives us discernment to recognize Satan’s deception. When you get to know God’s principles, His thoughts, His ways, His words, then when the enemy speaks to you, you KNOW it isn’t God. 

We MUST know the Bible. When someone says, “Jesus sinned,” we can say, “No, He didn’t,” and have the verses to back it up. When someone says, “I don’t believe Satan is real,” we can show them in the Bible that he is. When you hear, “I believe I’m going to heaven because I’m a good person,” you will know that Jesus is the only way. The Bible will renew your mind to the thoughts and the thinking of God. 

Remember, if it doesn’t line up with the Bible, it doesn’t line up at all. 

This is an excerpt from a 90-day devotional written by Emil and Karen. To order the full devotional, click on the TO ORDER DEVOTIONAL page.