January 29 Devotion

Writing to the Christians at Corinth, Paul said, “I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed” (II Corinthians 11:3&4). Jesus said that the Devil has always hated the truth (John 8:44). Why? Because, even the Devil knows the truth sets people free (John 8:32). Satan knew what God had told Eve and the parameters of what fruit she could eat and what fruit was off-limits. So, when Satan approached Eve, he did so with a question that has a little bit of truth, but not the whole truth. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). And when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he did so with a little bit of truth, but not the whole truth. “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He orders His angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone’” (Matthew 4:5&6; Psalm 91:11&12). Even as he had in the Garden, so Satan now in the wilderness, attempts to confuse people by throwing in only enough of the truth to confuse those who don’t know more of the truth. Satan veils his lies with just enough truth to make his lies believable (II Corinthians 3:13-15; 4:3&4). Even well-meaning people can be used by Satan to spread his lies if they aren’t careful in applying the truth they do know. There are many truths stated by Job’s friends. Elihu correctly says, “Surely, it is God’s Spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent” (Job 32:8). “God is all-powerful” (36:22). “God is exalted beyond what we can understand” (36:26). “We cannot comprehend the greatness of His power” (37:5). “People who are truly wise show Him (God) reverence” (37:24). But, Elihu wrongly applies God’s truth to Job’s situation. Cults are started when well-meaning or not-so-well-meaning individuals use only enough truth to deceive those not versed well enough in the whole truth to confuse them. It is important that we know the truth and that we know when and how to speak the truth so that the truth accomplishes God’s purposes, rather than being misapplied to suit Satan’s purposes.