from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
TRADE
IN DECEIT FOR DELIVERANCE
“This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive
yourselves, thinking, ‘The Babylonians will surely leave us.’ They will not!”
Jeremiah
37:9
When Zedekiah was king of Judah, the
people dismissed God’s word like junk mail to a recycling bin, yet they still
wanted His help. When threatened by their enemy the king sent a message to
Jeremiah saying, “Please pray for us to
the LORD our God” (Jeremiah 37:3).
God responded, “Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, ‘The Babylonians will surely
leave us’ They will not!” (37:9). Jeremiah
repeatedly told the king to obey God, and the king repeatedly disregarded the
warnings. Zedekiah chose to listen to his fears (38:19) and his friends (38:22)
instead of listening to God. In the end, he watched the Babylonians slaughter
his sons before they blinded and bound him (39:6).
Zedekiah deceived himself into thinking
he could ignore God’s instruction and yet implore His intercession. He feared
political ramifications and public opinion, more then He feared God. He was a
double-minded man, (James 1:8) whose deceitful thoughts led to his defeat and
disgrace.
In chapter 9 of Jeremiah God tells the
people that they live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refused
to acknowledge God (v. 6). How true of our culture yet today!
Our world has deceived itself into
thinking that truth is relevant and if it feels right, then it must be right.
Even the body of Christ has deceived itself into thinking we can pick and
choose which of God’s commands we’ll obey and which ones we’ll sideline because
they’re too costly, radical, or difficult.
In his book, Our Favorite Sins–The Sins We Commit & How You Can Quit, Todd.
D. Hunter writes, “Temptations almost always come wrapped in some sort of lie
or deception. The fraud provides the alleged reason we should give in to the
temptation.”
Do not be deceived into thinking that
disobedience is no big deal or that there’s no way out of the temptations that
lure you. Jesus is our Deliverer! Keep your eyes on the LORD, your ear
attentive to His Word, your mind fixed on His truth, and He will deliver you
from the snares of the world, the lies of the deceiver, and your own
double-minded thoughts.
Think
on it: What command of
God have you deceived yourself into ignoring? Ask Him to deliver you and set
your feet firmly on His path of righteousness.
From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from
all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil…Good Lord, deliver us.
Book of Common Prayer
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