The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 24:4-5,
"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many."
Jesus' disciples asked him when the destruction of the temple would take place, the signs of his second coming and the end of the age. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and, of course, Jesus' second coming and the end of the age are yet future.
Jesus responded with a series of signs that would present themselves. These he described as "birth pains." I understand this to mean they will be painful events that will come in waves, just as a woman's birth pains. However, he began his answer to them with the above warning for us. Do not be deceived!
He explained that many would come in his name, claiming to be the Messiah. They do so in order to deceive people. Apparently they will have some measure of success in their deception as Jesus pointed out that "many" will be deceived. He prefaced his answers about future events with this warning. He clearly believes it is important we not be deceived and led astray.
How do we do that? How do we keep ourselves from being deceived? I am of the persuasion that there are all kinds of deceivers and deceptions around us, deceptions promoted in Jesus' name. Fake evangelists who are lining their pockets as they make false promises to even some of the most financially desperate among us. Fake religious leaders who have invented their own brands of "Christianity" starting new denominations, new -isms, new theologies, new movements within the church to garner big followings. Looking at those things, we have to agree with Jesus that many are being deceived in our day.
Paul gives us excellent direction on how we can avoid deception as we embrace Jesus Christ in our lives, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
The dark side, "Team Cain", makes every effort to deceive those who would embrace the Lord in their lives. It is the Scriptures and our faithful consuming them that will guard our hearts and minds from being deceived by these deceivers. Reading the Scriptures, ruminating in them, memorizing them, knowing them, understanding them, focusing on them will keep us from this kind of deception.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many."
Jesus' disciples asked him when the destruction of the temple would take place, the signs of his second coming and the end of the age. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and, of course, Jesus' second coming and the end of the age are yet future.
Jesus responded with a series of signs that would present themselves. These he described as "birth pains." I understand this to mean they will be painful events that will come in waves, just as a woman's birth pains. However, he began his answer to them with the above warning for us. Do not be deceived!
He explained that many would come in his name, claiming to be the Messiah. They do so in order to deceive people. Apparently they will have some measure of success in their deception as Jesus pointed out that "many" will be deceived. He prefaced his answers about future events with this warning. He clearly believes it is important we not be deceived and led astray.
How do we do that? How do we keep ourselves from being deceived? I am of the persuasion that there are all kinds of deceivers and deceptions around us, deceptions promoted in Jesus' name. Fake evangelists who are lining their pockets as they make false promises to even some of the most financially desperate among us. Fake religious leaders who have invented their own brands of "Christianity" starting new denominations, new -isms, new theologies, new movements within the church to garner big followings. Looking at those things, we have to agree with Jesus that many are being deceived in our day.
Paul gives us excellent direction on how we can avoid deception as we embrace Jesus Christ in our lives, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
The dark side, "Team Cain", makes every effort to deceive those who would embrace the Lord in their lives. It is the Scriptures and our faithful consuming them that will guard our hearts and minds from being deceived by these deceivers. Reading the Scriptures, ruminating in them, memorizing them, knowing them, understanding them, focusing on them will keep us from this kind of deception.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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