Search for Truth and Beware of Lies

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
                              Colossians 2:8 (KJV)
 



Hi Friends,
 
     How are you today?  I hope you are doing well.  It seems like we are getting information and messages from all over that contradict each other and it is easy to feel confused, discouraged, and overwhelmed.  However, God warns us about believing false information.  I wrestle with that a bit myself, knowing who or what to believe.  And, as you read this, you might be questioning as to whether you should believe my words.  I am not asking you to believe my words, just to consider them.  They are food for thought.  Pray about them.  Ask God what is right and what is wrong.  

     I think about culture, tradition, religion, and how much we do without even questioning.  We are molded by beliefs, tradition, and culture.  Some things in our culture, tradition, and religions may be good.  Yet, not everything we have been taught or molded to be by the world is good.  Now is a good time to look at what we are taught and what we teach others to see if it aligns with God’s will for us.
 
    Sometimes it feels like we just go through our day like a zombie, without looking at whether what we are doing is right or wrong.  Or, we may accept what we are told or do as tradition without wondering whether that tradition is right or wrong?  We might think, “Oh, it has always been that way” and just do it.

     Often, our society doesn’t encourage us or teach us to question what we are taught, our cultural ways, or our religious beliefs.  As children, we are sometimes punished if we question our parents, teachers, or ministers.  We are taught to not “rock the boat” and to not go against the norm.  So, we get relaxed in what we think or do.  It is almost like we do things with numbness and not realize the full effects of our actions. 

     I think when we are not taught to question things correctly; we are apt to do it in a way that is argumentative, demeaning, or violent.  We have rebellions and uprising, violence, and crime.  That is not the purpose of questioning things and shouldn’t be the result.  We see violence more and more, it seems.  Could it be that it is because we are not encouraged to weigh things we are taught with what the Word of God says?

     It isn’t just violence that we want to avoid by weighing what we learn and knowing the correct way to question.  It is also that if we don’t question a source or a message, that we can easily be deceived.  Through ignorance, anxiety, charm, or manipulation, it is quite easy to get caught up in a moment and believe something that is not true or only half true.

     The problem is that it isn’t always the “evil criminal” that deceives us.  It may also be our neighbors, coworkers, our loved ones, our teachers, and our churches.  We may accept information as true from sources, because we may think they are good sources and wouldn’t try to hurt us in anyway.  And, while their motives may not be evil, it doesn’t always mean that the information is true or complete.  We all tend to put our own spin on things, even if we don’t really know we are doing it.  And, it is so easy to get taken in and get caught up in things that we are told.  Words can be powerful things.  That is why it is so important that we are aware and seek truth, God’s truth, and not worldly messages.

     The message that I am pointing out is that God calls us to be aware, to question, and not to fall for deceit.  We are called to seek God and ask Him directly whether something is right or wrong.  We are called to read the Bible and to follow the example given by Jesus.  God is truth.  God is the answer.  He will show us the truth, if we seek Him.
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for being our Heavenly Father.  Thank you for being our Compass and always telling us and showing us truth.  You are truth and the only true guide.  Please, put a hedge of protection around us from the deceit of the world.  Help us to seek you always, to follow the example of Jesus, and to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit.  Give us the courage to stand up for truth and the clarity to know when to question, when to pray, when to speak out, and when to keep quiet.  I ask you this through your Son, Jesus.  Amen.
 
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Reflective questions for Colossians 2:8 (KJV):
*What does Colossians 2:8 mean to me?
*Do I easily believe what I want to hear?
*Am I easily charmed?
*Do I do things that are tradition, culturally acceptable, and within the
 church without questioning whether or not it is God’s will?
*Do I seek the truth through reading the Bible, fasting, and praying to God?
*What could I do to further God’s truth instead of getting caught up in the
 deceit of the world?

Now, your thoughts:
     I am interested in your thoughts and comments.  What message of the world confuses you?  What answers do you seek?  Let me know in the comments or contact me.

Would you like to have questions to help you reflect on God's Word?  I have a free download for you.

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