deception

Not Original But A Good Reminder Still

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

I know you’ve probably heard this used as an illustration in a sermon or a speech at some point in your life. I’ve heard it more than once, but it bears repeating because it is such a good and timely reminder.

Those who look for counterfeit bills don’t spend as much time studying the counterfeits as you might think. Why? Because they spend all their time studying the real bills, getting as familiar as possible with every little detail so that when a counterfeit comes along, they can instantly spot the differences.

The best way to spot false teaching is to know the truth. It’s to know the Bible. Not just carry it around or talk about it or read books about it. Not even just to read it. But to soak it in, to know it, to breathe it, to live it, so that it becomes such a part of you that you instantly recognize counterfeit teaching when you hear it.

Don’t just read words. Come to Scripture with a prayerful heart and a teachable spirit. Ask God to show you what he intended when he inspired the original authors. Pray for eyes to see the truth within, no matter how painful or uncomfortable. Then do what it says.

That’s my challenge to you. That’s my challenge to me because I frankly haven’t done a very good job of knowing the Bible I carry around. Because the Bible says false teachers will come and try to deceive you and lead you from the truth. They will say what sounds good to the ear, what feels good, and what maybe partially true. But in the end, it’s deception.

Deception leads to bondage. Only the truth, and knowing the truth, will set you free.

Lies I have believed

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / 2 Comments

Even now I still buy into the lie that says, “No one knows you or wants to know you. No one cares about you. You are not welcome or wanted. You are nothing but a shadow that will pass away and nothing will be different when you’re gone.” Even in the midst of those thoughts, when I am almost completely given over to despair and self-pity, Jesus still speaks freedom and truth into my life and against that lie. He illuminates the darkness and exposes what I have believed for the deception it really is.

When the lie says, “No one really knows you,” Jesus, You say, “I know you down to your innermost parts and I know the plans I have for you.”When the lie says, “No one cares about you,” You say, “I care. I loved you so much that while you were a sinner and hostile to me, I died for you. When the lie says, “You are not wanted,” You say, “Come and drink, you who are thirsty for love and come and eat, you who hunger for acceptance. Come to me and I will never cast you out.”

Jesus,  You say, “If you seek Me and not popularity or acceptance, you will not only find that I am your heart’s greatest desire, but you will also find yourself next to those whose hearts are also tuned in to Me. When you can no longer walk, you will findI have placed other in your path to be My hands to carry you. When you can no longer speak, they will be My voice to speak to you and for you. They will share your burdens, sorrows and joys.”

Jesus, take every lie that I have believed and show it to me through Your eyes as the deception it really is. Bind and rebuke the enemy from my mind and so fill my thoughts with You that there is no room for any other voices. Help me to believe the best about my family and friends and loved ones and never to give up on anyone because You never gave up on me– and never will!

Love Your people through me. May I never take it upon myself to determine who is or is not worthy of receiving Your love, but to remember that no one is worthy of Your love, but Your love made us worthy. Thank You for Your reckless, wild, unrestrained, passionate crazy love for me. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Heal the dark and scarred and shameful places in me.

Captivate me so that I will only chase after You alone and not make idols out of the people or things or places You put in my path. You know that I am by nature prone to idolatry at times and practical atheism (living as though You didn’t exist). Capture my heart so that nothing else will ever matter next to knowing You and making You known.

Help me to remember that I am broken and part of a community of broken people. I belong to a body of believers who don’t have the future mapped out, but know the One who is the Way; who don’t have life figured out, but know the One who is the Life; and who don’t have the answers, but know the One who is the Truth. You are 100% completely in control and we are 100% completely dependent on You at all times for every single thing. You and you plus nothing else make a great Church. Only You are worth living for and only You are worthy of all the honor and glory and praise I can ever bring and a whole lot more. No one or nothing else. Only You.

As always, I believe. Help my unbelief.