Title: Courting Confusion/Topic: Deception

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 13; 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:13
13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Observation: The interesting part of this verse is the last phrase, “deceiving and being deceived”. Those who use deception, lies, and half-truths in their relationships with others usually think they are being smart and manipulating situations to their benefit by engaging in these practices. They believe they are “pulling the wool” over others' eyes. They may be doing so, but they are ignorant of the truth of this scripture. Those that deceive others and don't live in truth will themselves be deceived. They court confusion in their thinking by not living in truth. In my experience, those that use deception usually think they are smarter than others and that they can spot a lie a mile away. They are wrong. They actually become unable to discern truth very well and are easily swayed in their opinions by others because they lose the ability to reason from principle. They get caught in their own web of lies and don't even recognize it.

Application: Live in truth! Don't try to manipulate situations by even shading the truth a little bit. Truth is one of the pieces of spiritual armor mentioned in Ephesians. Put it on every day and don't let it go. Your mind will be clear and you will be able to discern truth if you refuse to engage in deceiving others.

Prayer: Father, show us when we stray even a little bit from the path of truth. Keep us strong in your Spirit and give us clear, unconfused minds so that we may live boldly and confidently.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.