Reading: Amos 1 - 2
My Verse: "Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the law of the LORD,
and have not kept his statutes,
but their lies have led them astray,
those after which their fathers walked" (Amos 2:4).
Oh those telling words "their lies have led them astray." How often You tell us this, LORD God! How often you plead with us to put aside lying. (Ephesians 4:25). If we do not then You, because You are a holy God must punish us. Lying can only lead to eternal separation from YOU.
It is interesting here that the lies are those of "their fathers." This reminds me that we each are responsible to respond to Your truth. We cannot say "well that is what I was taught by my parents or culture." That does not fly. It is simply placing the blame for our misconceptions elsewhere.
When we lie or believe lies we delude ourselves. And when we are deluded we cannot find our way back to truth without the help of You, LORD God. Isaiah states it so eloquently.
"He feeds on ashes;
a deluded heart has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself or say,
"Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:20).
So many live cavalier lives, thinking that they will deal with truth tomorrow. The sad and dreadful thing is when we allow lies to be a part of our lives we come to believe those lies. And even sadder and more dreadful there comes a day when You, LORD God give us up to those very lies.
"Therefore,God sends them a strong delusion,
so that they may believe what is false,
in order that all may be condemned
who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 11,12).
You warn us in Matthew 24:4.
"Let no one deceive you."
Unfortunately, too often it is our own selves that we deceive because we want something bad enough that we are willing to compromise truth and right. Slowly we keep compromising until we are so deceived that we become lost in delusion unable to see the light of truth.
One only needs to look around at all those that get caught up in cults or some cause. One does not plan to live in delusion but as we allow ourselves to get caught up in things that are not of you we become lost in that delusion.
Paul warns us in Romans 1:24, 25.
"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity,
to dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie
and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever! Amen."
Thank You for this, LORD God. Thank you for reminding me how dreadful it is to lie and how lies can drag me into a world of delusional living. I must purposefully and persistently seek truth for only Your truth, LORD God can set me free and keep me free.
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
"Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the law of the LORD,
and have not kept his statutes,
but their lies have led them astray,
those after which their fathers walked" (Amos 2:4).
Oh those telling words "their lies have led them astray." How often You tell us this, LORD God! How often you plead with us to put aside lying. (Ephesians 4:25). If we do not then You, because You are a holy God must punish us. Lying can only lead to eternal separation from YOU.
It is interesting here that the lies are those of "their fathers." This reminds me that we each are responsible to respond to Your truth. We cannot say "well that is what I was taught by my parents or culture." That does not fly. It is simply placing the blame for our misconceptions elsewhere.
When we lie or believe lies we delude ourselves. And when we are deluded we cannot find our way back to truth without the help of You, LORD God. Isaiah states it so eloquently.
"He feeds on ashes;
a deluded heart has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself or say,
"Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:20).
So many live cavalier lives, thinking that they will deal with truth tomorrow. The sad and dreadful thing is when we allow lies to be a part of our lives we come to believe those lies. And even sadder and more dreadful there comes a day when You, LORD God give us up to those very lies.
"Therefore,God sends them a strong delusion,
so that they may believe what is false,
in order that all may be condemned
who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 11,12).
You warn us in Matthew 24:4.
"Let no one deceive you."
Unfortunately, too often it is our own selves that we deceive because we want something bad enough that we are willing to compromise truth and right. Slowly we keep compromising until we are so deceived that we become lost in delusion unable to see the light of truth.
One only needs to look around at all those that get caught up in cults or some cause. One does not plan to live in delusion but as we allow ourselves to get caught up in things that are not of you we become lost in that delusion.
Paul warns us in Romans 1:24, 25.
"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity,
to dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie
and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever! Amen."
Thank You for this, LORD God. Thank you for reminding me how dreadful it is to lie and how lies can drag me into a world of delusional living. I must purposefully and persistently seek truth for only Your truth, LORD God can set me free and keep me free.
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
"Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5)
