A Day-by-day devotional

March 5, 2023

Deception

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Numbers 22-23

Scripture of the Day: John 8:44

“The greatest deception that Lucifer tries to sell to mankind is that neither he nor sin exists.“

Paraphrasing a line from the opera I have watched tonight whose story dealt with the lost of paradise, my heart felt being wrung. I had to take out my phone in the midst of the show just so I could type the statement and remember it in exactly the form that shook me.

If people wouldn’t believe that Satan really does exist, then, they could not be pressed on about the idea of missing the mark. If man would refuse to believe that the world is in a fallen state, then, the concept of sin would be very vague. If the idea of sin cannot be fully accepted, we wouldn’t even bother whether we sin or not. Together with the non-acceptance of sin, there is in turn, the non-acceptance of God’s commandments. What a great deceiver the enemy truly is!

For man, the first sin resulting from Adam and Eve‘s disobedience paved the way to an inheritance that leads to death. This, however, was already rectified by Christ when He died on the cross for man’s sin. The inheritance that leads to death has now been remedied to become an inheritance that leads to eternal life.

Man may have been banned from Paradise due to Adam and Eve’s fall. But through Jesus, man once again has the chance to live in the new Paradise that awaits us. However, for the meantime, while we are waiting on that promise, we can ask Jesus to fill our hearts with paradise. This paradise is not devoid of the understanding that although we were given freedom, we are not free to do anything we want. We can choose what to do with our freedom, but with no accountability, the world breaks into chaos. And chaos is a direct result of sin, and its creator, Satan.

Reflection: You may be a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, but do not be deceived that you can no longer be deceived by the deceiver. When deception creeps in, chaos comes in second.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the discernment to know what is right and acceptable to you. Do not allow me to be deceived. Amen.