Tag: deceive yourselves
Day 2–Blessed to hear and apply!
Scripture reading for February 10: James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
We as responders must be continually listening and applying what we already know with the new information we are receiving as we respond to each incident. We listen to the incident 911 dispatcher’s instructions and directions. We act by following the directions to the incident scene after procuring the needed equipment and tools. On the scene, we report new information that may help others respond with needed skills or other equipment. If there is a person in distress, we ask questions to determine how to best help that person in the most timely manner.
As faith responders who are learning to follow Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, listening and hearing are critical to success. We can hear but not listen, resulting in our knowing information but failing to act on that information. God’s Word says we deceive ourselves when we do not apply the instructions or corrections God gives us. If we lack wisdom on applying God’s Word, James tells us we must ask God in faith for help and He will generously give what we need. (James 1:5-6) But if we ask for wisdom and receive it, we should act on it not just hear the words. That is unbelief and not faith. Procrastination and fear of failure often hinder us from acting.
As we are with Jesus through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we can have wisdom and new insight as needed. The perfect law of love for God and love for others will motivate us to always seek loving responses to meet the needs we face.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the perfect law of love expressed to us in the death of Jesus Christ and Your Gift of the Holy Spirit. We have liberty to love others and trust You for the wisdom and direction needed through Your Word and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Don’t deceive yourself!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: James 1
James was the half-brother of Jesus Christ and the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. James wrote this letter as possibly one of the first letters of encouragement and correction taken into the body of writings known as the New Testament. He wrote during a time of intense persecution for Jewish believers who had taken Christ as the Messiah. One of his primary concerns was deception.
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created.” (James 1:16-18)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)
In order for a person to be deceived, they must believe that information is the truth when it is, in reality, not true. We can be ‘self-deceived’ when we choose to believe something that we want to be true, but fail to accept anything that might show it is not true. James was warning the Jewish believers and us of the folly of deception. We are truly in a bad state if we believe something is true that is really false and refuse to allow anyone to correct us! Faith and obedient action must go together. We much watch our tongues and always trust that God is good!
Avoiding self-deception!
Scripture reading for November 18th: James 1:19-2:12
The human mind, born the first time under the deception of sin, is prone to self-deception. We don’t always easily recognize the lies we are under or have chosen to believe. We tend to see the faults and sins of others, but are blind to our own. James understands human nature and through the Holy Spirit has addressed the subject of self-deception.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:19-22)
First, James addresses his friends with affection. God is not mean or hateful when He corrects us. Hearing truth requires a heart that is open to understand. James realizes that too often we are not in a state of readiness to hear. When we are talking or have anger in our hearts, we cannot concentrate on the word of God. In order to receive the word, we must humbly accept it. This requires repentance–a turning from evil, anger, and moral corruption.
God’s word is able to save us. We are born again by receiving the truth about Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accepting His sacrifice for our sins. We must be willing to hear the truth about our own life of sin and the truth about who Jesus is and what He did. We must also be humble enough to confess our sins and turn from them to Christ for cleansing and new birth. This means we must not only hear the truth but do what the truth requires.
If we only hear and do not apply the truth, we are deceived. We really deceive ourselves, because only knowing about truth cannot save us! “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” God wants to bless His people! Be a doer and avoid self-deception.