I don’t know anyone who enjoys being deceived by someone. Do you? It’s always hurtful and sometimes dangerous.
Psalm 119:25-32 opens with four prayer requests. The last
one is that God would keep the psalmist from lying to himself (Psalms 119:26, 27, 29, NLT). I
wonder how many people have ever prayed that prayer?
Self-deception can be subtle. For example, there are
people proud of the fact that they know the Bible, but it never makes a difference by moving from their head to their heart. Others like to self-interpret scripture to their
advantage or viewpoint, despite two things: God’s word was written under the direction
of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit was sent into this world to lead us
into God’s truth (2 Peter 1:20-21;
John 16:13)
God cares about
self-deception. Jeremiah said the heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9-10), but there
is hope. Our old nature is corrupted by deception, but accepting Jesus as
Savior gives us a new nature, desiring to be righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:20-24).
Obedience is a matter of our will. In response to
answered prayers for help in understanding God’s word, the psalmist determines
to obey: 1) I will meditate
on your deeds, 2) I have chosen to be faithful, 3) I
have determined to live by your regulations, 4) I cling to
your laws, and 5) I will pursue your commands (V. 27, 30, 31, 32).
The problem of self-deception can be avoided. If we want wisdom and understanding, all we have to do is ask, obey, and be blessed (James 1:5, 22-25).
Pixabay: Choice, select, selection; geralt.
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