Do Not Fear the DarknessSample

Guard Against Deception 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.’” —James 1:13

Many times people do things that are wrong, but they don’t think they’re wrong because they believe God is the One leading them. For instance, I’ve known too many people who have left their churches or even their marriage partners, claiming God told them to leave, when in reality, although they thought He said that, He didn’t. People are doing things they think are OK with God but, in fact, those things are not right. James is warning us not to be deceived.

I want to stress the truth in today’s verse. Often when we love God and are sincerely seeking Him, we can make the mistake of thinking that everything we feel is from Him. We can incorrectly begin thinking that all of the thoughts we’re thinking, and all of the emotions we’re feeling are from the Lord- when sometimes they’re just not.

This was a huge lesson I had to learn years ago. I knew that God supernaturally spoke to me, but in my inexperience, I made the mistake of thinking that every time I sensed something, it was the Lord. I had to learn the lesson found in 1 John 4:1–3, which says to test the spirits because not every spirit is from God.

The Bible says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). How, then, do we know what’s from God and what’s not? First, we have the Word. If a thought, a feeling, a statement, or an action contradicts the written Word, it’s not from the Lord. Second, the Scriptures tell us that we gain discernment through experience and maturity. Hebrews 5:14 reveals to us that as our senses are trained by the Lord we are able “to discern good and evil.” And third, counsel from mature and trusted friends in Messiah serves as a safeguard to keep us on track.

Beloved, I want to encourage us today: let’s be on guard against deception and the pride Satan can use to deceive us.