Posts Tagged ‘deception’

Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 24:1-28, Psalm 24, Proverbs 7:1-5

As Jesus was nearing the end of His time on earth, He took time to answer the disciple’s questions concerning events that would take place in the future.  One characteristic of our great God is that He knows the end from the beginning.  He has perfect knowledge of future events and has even written them down as proof for us that He alone is God.  That is the nature of prophesy and Jesus spoke prophetically to His close followers.

They had two questions following His statement that the temple in Jerusalem would be torn down, with not one stone left upon another.  They wanted to know when this would happen and what would be the signs leading up to this event and the end of the age.  “Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things  must happen, bu the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  These are the beginnings of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:4-8)

Jesus answered these questions with a straight-forward warning against deception.  Deception would be a sign of the coming end of the age.  There would be religious deception coming from people who came in His name, but were really not His.   These people would be working to deceive many people.  This would require watchfulness and discernment.  The disciples must know what was real and be able to spot these deceivers.  They would need to exercise caution and stay close to the Lord Himself.

There would also be turmoil in the world among the nations and peoples.  Wars and rumors of wars would abound and earthquakes and famines would bring destruction and pain to many people.  These would be just the beginning of this time of the end.  It would be like labor pains in a woman ready to give birth.  The time would be near and those who had spiritual eyes could see and know what it would be like.  Do you see signs of the end of the age?  Are you ready for Jesus’ return?

Scripture reading for February 17th: Numbers 21-25

Complaining can be deadly!  The Bible teaches that there is power in our words and what comes out of our mouth has roots in our heart.  (Matthew 12:34-35)   Faith is something that we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth.  The object of true biblical faith must be God and His word, not our fears or a lie.  The Israelites had a lot to learn.

“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom.   But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert?  There is no bread!  There is no water!  And we detest this miserable food!”" (Numbers 21:4-5)

Sin is deeply ingrained in our hearts.  Even this group of people who had seen many miracles and daily experienced the miraculous supply of manna still had sin in their hearts.   The cloud of Glory and Fire of God at night did not keep them from complaining.  The earth opening and swallowing some who complained alive did not seem to have an effect.  They wanted what they wanted, when they wanted it, and would not be happy until they got it!

God did answer their complaints about Him and Moses by sending some poisonous snakes to bite them.  When the complainers began to die because of the bites, they cried out to Moses for help.  It is interesting that leaders are blamed for perceived troubles, but when the consequences of sin do begin to come, then the same complainers want prayer and begin to confess sin.  (Numbers 21:6-7)

Moses was given a strange remedy for the snake bites by God.  (Numbers 21:8-9)  He was to make a bronze snake and put it on top of a pole for the people to look at.  Anyone who was bitten could look with faith and live!  Jesus Christ used this verse from Scripture to describe His own death on the cross for the whole world.  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-16)

Dear Friends,   Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the only wise God!  What a day to be alive and learning to know and love God!  The signs are everywhere of the last days and God’s Word tells us to live wisely and make the most of our time as we see the Day of Christ approaching. (Ephesians 5:15-16)  Those who are righteous will become more righteous and live by the Spirit, following Christ more closely.  Those who are wicked will become more wicked, following their own flesh and the evil spirits of this world more closely.  (Revelation 22:10-11)

As we begin a study of Proverbs in our daily reading, we are exposed to wisdom for successful daily living in this world.  The proverbs were wise sayings and nuggets of God’s truth that would help to discern the right path.  These truths were particularly helpful to youth and children who were beginning their walk through life.  Parents were to teach their children wise living.  They taught by impressing truth on the hearts of the young during daily meals, Sabbath day church gatherings, work, and sharing at bedtime around the fire.

Wise living always centered on loving God and obeying His commandments.  This wisdom has it’s beginning in a deep respect for God as Creator and giver of life!  The term used in Scripture is the ‘fear of the Lord’.  Parents teach the ‘fear of the Lord’ by their attitude towards God and God’s house.  Regular church attendance and worship is a good indication of a desire to live wisely.  Daily study of the Word of God and prayer are spiritual disciplines that indicate a desire to know God’s will in order to submit to it and obey it.  Wise living honors God’s Word as the rule of faith and practice.  We treat it with respect and believe it is truth–all of it!  When we cut out parts of the Bible because it doesn’t line up with what ’science’ teaches or with what we want to believe, then we have lost our fear of the Lord and our ability to know truth.  This is a dangerous place to be!

In the last days, men will refuse a love of the truth, believe a lie, and end up in damnation.  (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12)  When we have no fear of God or His Word, a delusion of deception blinds us even further.  We lose our ability to discern right from wrong.  We end up delighting in wickedness and going to our destruction.    Now is the time to press on to know the Lord and live wisely in obedience and faith.  Jesus is coming soon!  (Revelation 22:20)