The deceptive attitudes put up by many Christians these day calls for serious need to take a look into its danger in this devotional today. Through these deceptive attitudes, we can see Christians presenting themselves of who they are not in numerous ways and various degrees. It is a manifestation of self-deception by description.The discussion in this devotional is based on definition of “self-deception” by Mariam-Webster Dictionary. The Dictionary said “self-deception is the act or an instance of deceiving oneself especially concerning one’s true nature.” By this definition, anything done to self that makes one become different from the true nature of that person amounts to self-deception.
The world is full of self-deceptions as it concerns one’s true nature. It is in the blood of everyone. But there are people whose acts are dominantly about showing up against who they are naturally. In this devotional, we will restrict our focus to how we project ourselves in the society differently from who we are truly. The unbelievers do this effortlessly. They do this to boost their egos. But for Christians, it is not correct to project selves differently from who we really are. It amounts to lying.
The passage in Obadiah is God’s directed word to the people of Edom who filled their hearts with pride; believing they are fortified enough as war lords. Their attitude reflected “self-deception.” Hear the Bible: “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, who will bring me down to the ground? Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD. (Obadiah 3 – 4).Setting their nest among the stars in this passage could means equating themselves with the ruling class.
Christians who claim being one but has no respect for Jesus, doing what their minds tell them rather than what the Bible instructs them to be are living in self-deception (Mark 7: 6; James 1: 22). It is self-deception when you borrow dresses to public gathering to impress on people as a Christian. It is self-deception when you rehearse praying in tongues publicly but live a sinner life in private. It is self-deception when you talk of your wealth while you have nothing. There is self-deception in display when you are invited as Minister Guest Speaker and you go borrow high class vehicle to make your hosts believed that you have arrived. Anointing is not in the vehicle but in the power of God as well as how much of His words you carry.
Some ministers of the gospel would take snap shots of churches or video clips of another crusade ground and send them abroad as their church or congregation. This is to make people over there believe the Man of God is pulling crowds. What a show of self-deception? We Christians reading this devotional are advised to desist from self-deception. Be who you are in all its truest and allow God to equip you the ways He wants you to be. May God supply your needs and project you appropriately. May He remove you from the position that influences your lying nature to the true nature He made you.
PRAYER:
Blessed Father, I never knew that presenting me other than how you created me is self-deception. Today you have given me an understanding. Forgive me the sins of self-deception. Grant me grace to live truthful life in Jesus name.
POSITIVE CONFESSION:
I am the express image and likeness of God. I appreciate myself as who God made. I am wonderfully made. Hallelujah!!
*bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch*