Daily Diary January 14th, 2021

Are We Deceived?

The more I study the Word and seek God, I learn that we all can be deceived at times.  A lot of the time we actually deceive ourselves.  How you might ask?  People’s pride that comes from their good deeds or works starts to deceive them into thinking they are exempt from sin, or that their reliance is not on Jesus, but on themselves. 

1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

When this happens we deceive ourselves, and our reliance moves from Jesus to us.  This causes a self-righteous mindset that could also be known as a “religious spirit”.  I don’t believe this is always a conscious mindset but rather a fleshly position that causes people to pass judgment on others when we all are sinners.  The fact is we will never stop needing a savior and to do so would mean Jesus’ sacrifice was not necessary.

We need Jesus as our savior yesterday, today and forever.  He is our salvation and our source of righteousness.

We need to realize that we were all passed over to judgment when Jesus came to take our place.  No one was exempt. 

Only Jesus is worthy as the Lamb of God, yet so many people set in judgment of others.  In fact, our news media and some leaders are consumed with people judging each other to justify their position.  Our public mindset is completely established through who can pass judgment on someone else the best.  Basically, people are condemning others in an attempt to deceive the world around them into thinking someone is more worthy.  We all are guilty of this type of judgment.

Have you ever stopped to think that when we pass judgment like this we are actually condemning ourselves?  Whatever you reap you will sew.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Father God we conclude today that we need a savior.  Give us wisdom that we may not be deceived by the work of our flesh in Jesus name!

1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.