DECEIVERS AMONG US

Watch out! Beware of … the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees—Matthew 16:6, 12

There is much deception by communication. Many use their words to intentionally deceive others. We need not be paranoid, but we also don’t want to be gullible. It is the gullible that deceivers seek to deceive. Deceptive communication is when someone speaks what they appear to honestly believe to be true but they are intentionally misleading those they are communicating to. Today’s media does this all too often. I am very leery of today’s so-called journalism and do not take my “news” just from one source.

This type of deceptive communication not only occurs outside the Christian community, but also under the umbrella of those claiming to be Christians as well. Just because someone says they are a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean they are. This type of deception was happening in Jesus day with Judaism as mentioned in the verses above.

Just recently a Christian book that has sold one million copies was acknowledged to be a deceptive tale. One million people bought the book and I wonder how many thought it was true! There are many charlatans that operate as “sheep in wolves clothing.” For those of us who are truly seeking to be faithful to Jesus, this should be no surprise to us. God’s Word is clear that deceivers are among us (II John 1:7) and that wolves would seek to destroy the sheep (Acts 20:29). So, let us not be naïve, but may we be like the Bereans of Acts 17:10-12 who daily look into what they were hearing as to whether it was true or not. Yes, may we be like them.

Dear Father, please help me to not only communicate truth effectively, but also to listen effectively for truth. Oh, Holy Spirit, please help me to be discerning as to what is true and what is false. I am so grateful to know that Your Word is Truth. May I measure everything by Your Word and in the authority of Jesus.