Reading: Colossians 2
My Verse: "I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech" (2:4).
It seems a strange pairing but complacency and curiosity are both great dangers to our spiritual lives. It is so easy to become complacent - I am guilty of it far too often. And curiosity can lead us to so many places - places we have no business going. Lord, thank you for this reminder here in Paul's warning to the Colossian people. He first compliments them on their spiritual strength but then gives them this strong warning.
The warning is so important because the danger is right in our church. I need to be careful about becoming complacent about what I hear in the church setting. We need to be ever alert that "no one may mislead and delude . . . by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech." It is so easy to have our curiosity piqued by "plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech." Because the speaker sounds good! We, at least I am, easily taken in by someone with beguiling speech.
Even You, Lord Jesus, warned us about letting ourselves be lead astray. "And Jesus began to tell them. Be careful and watchful that no one misleads you [about it]" (Mark 13:5). I know You were speaking specifically of the end times here but the warning applies to all wrong teaching.
I am always amazed by how my current other reading (readings other than the Bible) coincides with my Bible reading! Thank You for that Lord. Last night I read Calvin Miller's discussion of Bernard of Clairvaux's writing. Miller says, "Bernard suggests that pride begins in our curiosity about things which are not our duty. Our duty is to serve God and not be overtaken by undue concerns about others." Bernard points out that Eve's sin began with her curiosity about something she had no business being curious about. She was in the Garden of Eden - everything was wonderful. Yet, she strayed, she let her focus fall away from her Lord. How easy this is for us. We so need this warning. We so need to be ever alert to this danger.
"Be well balanced, be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion, seeking someone to seize upon and devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
You, Lord are Truth. I must ever be in Your Word. I must ever weigh all that I hear against Your word for . . "In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden" (Colossians 2:3).
Lord, keep me from complacency. Keep me from allowing my curiosity to lead me to places I need not go.
"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling" Psalm 41:3).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech" (2:4).
It seems a strange pairing but complacency and curiosity are both great dangers to our spiritual lives. It is so easy to become complacent - I am guilty of it far too often. And curiosity can lead us to so many places - places we have no business going. Lord, thank you for this reminder here in Paul's warning to the Colossian people. He first compliments them on their spiritual strength but then gives them this strong warning.
The warning is so important because the danger is right in our church. I need to be careful about becoming complacent about what I hear in the church setting. We need to be ever alert that "no one may mislead and delude . . . by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech." It is so easy to have our curiosity piqued by "plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech." Because the speaker sounds good! We, at least I am, easily taken in by someone with beguiling speech.
Even You, Lord Jesus, warned us about letting ourselves be lead astray. "And Jesus began to tell them. Be careful and watchful that no one misleads you [about it]" (Mark 13:5). I know You were speaking specifically of the end times here but the warning applies to all wrong teaching.
I am always amazed by how my current other reading (readings other than the Bible) coincides with my Bible reading! Thank You for that Lord. Last night I read Calvin Miller's discussion of Bernard of Clairvaux's writing. Miller says, "Bernard suggests that pride begins in our curiosity about things which are not our duty. Our duty is to serve God and not be overtaken by undue concerns about others." Bernard points out that Eve's sin began with her curiosity about something she had no business being curious about. She was in the Garden of Eden - everything was wonderful. Yet, she strayed, she let her focus fall away from her Lord. How easy this is for us. We so need this warning. We so need to be ever alert to this danger.
"Be well balanced, be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion, seeking someone to seize upon and devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
You, Lord are Truth. I must ever be in Your Word. I must ever weigh all that I hear against Your word for . . "In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden" (Colossians 2:3).
Lord, keep me from complacency. Keep me from allowing my curiosity to lead me to places I need not go.
"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling" Psalm 41:3).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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