DON'T BE DECEIVED

Let no one deceive you in any way. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

As you know, we’ve been in the last days for 2,000 years (Acts 2:17; 1 Pet 1:20). The context of Paul’s statement refers to a lawless man appearing on the world scene at the end of the last days, often referred to as the antichrist (1 Jn 2:18). Yet, the apostle’s little statement offers great spiritual counsel for all occasions. We should be on our toes with regard to deception, both intentional and unintentional. As it pertains to ministers and God’s Word, we should be as the Bereans (Acts 17:11), ensuring what is preached or taught lines up with Christ’s exaltation in the gospel of His atonement. We should guard ourselves from the struggle in our own flesh (Gal 5:17). Self-deceit is even more difficult to detect. We get carried away with our emotions and sentimentalities. Take devotions, for instance. Devotional meditations are to be, first and foremost, God-glorifying and Christ-exalting. The purpose for devotional meditations is to be devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. We devote ourselves in the mornings so our day is set up with thoughts for service to Christ (Col 3:23) and glory to God (1 Cor 10:31). We devote ourselves at night before we go to sleep so the last thoughts before repose are of our magnificent and beneficent King of kings. If the purpose or prominence in our meditations are about something other than Christ Jesus, it takes a “seat in the temple of God” (2 Thess 2:4), as we are God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16). Remember, the original Greek word for antichrist doesn’t mean ‘against Christ,’ but rather, ‘in place of Christ;’ and there are many today (1 Jn 2:18). We don’t fix ourselves in order to be surrendered to Christ. We surrender and devote ourselves to Christ; then He, by the Spirit, conforms us to His image and likeness.

Many antichrists are working
To distract and deceive;
Our eyes of faith must be on Christ,
On Him, whom we believe.

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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 4/10 - Lev 14; Psa 17; Prov 28; 2 Thess 2

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

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