EXPOSING DECEPTION

The frequent flier madness that occasionally takes over my life means there are literally times when I wake up in the middle of the night in a hotel, and as I peer up at the ceiling, for a few moments I have no idea which country I am in. Jet lag has disorientated me, temporarily disabling my memory, and the darkened room offers me no clue. And I don’t even know where the elusive light switch is. More than once I have felt my way around the walls, so I can flip the switch and check where I am on the planet.

READ

James 1:1-18

Jonah 2:4

Focus

‘But your own evil longings tempt you. They lead you on and drag you away,’

James 1:14

Going Deeper

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A steadfast commitment to sin will always produce something similar in our lives. Deception is married to rebellion, and when we join Jonah on a jog away from God, we end up losing our ability to see straight. And that deception is a thick fog, hard to shift. Perhaps there was a residue of it in Jonah’s complaint that he had been banished –driven away – from God’s sight (v.4). That’s just not true.

Jonah was a fugitive, not an exile. It’s ironic that the man who ran a marathon away from God then complained he had been rejected. Turning away from God takes us into the twilight zone when our faults are someone else’s fault, our rebelliousness can be rationalised, and what are outright sins seem sensible.

James makes it clear: when we go astray, we are dragged off course by our own evil longings. May God help us to see the truth about ourselves, especially when we are quoting Scripture, or even blaming Him for our poor choices!

Prayer: Spirit of truth, lead me and keep me in all truth. Amen.

DON’T SNACK ON CAMELS

We saw yesterday that sin deceives us; ironically, religion can do the same. Religious people are often meticulous about being right about righteousness. Sadly, sometimes we prioritise issues that God doesn’t care about – while ignoring what He is passionate about. The Pharisees famously fussed about theological minutiae and washed their hands before touching the Torah scrolls, yet were happy to stone their fellow human beings (especially the more spectacular sinners caught in the act). Their spirituality was selective and blinded them to their real deficiencies. The ridiculous word picture that Jesus drew of them, desperately trying to fish a tiny gnat out of a drink, yet gulping down a huge camel without hesitation (Matt. 23:24), shows how easily we can major on minors and ignore what really matters.

Read

Jonah 2:4b

Luke 11:39-44

Focus

‘But I will look again toward your holy temple in Jerusalem.’

Jonah 2:4b

At first Jonah’s prayer about the Temple seems like a pious declaration of hope; but eagle-eyed commentators have spotted a possible flaw. Of course, Jerusalem-loving Jonah would say that, wouldn’t he? But his problems all began because his call was to hated Nineveh, not the comfort of home. Perhaps it’s reading too much into his words, but the fury that later ignited in his heart suggests his repentance was at best fragile and incomplete.

Let’s avoid a mutated Christianity where we are smugly convinced God is delighted with us because we can check a few superficial boxes. Let’s ask Him what really matters to Him, and do what He says.

Prayer: Save me, Lord, from minimising the important and magnifying the insignificant. Amen.

WED

The church building was emblazoned by a fluorescent orange poster. It carried but two words in thick, gothic script: ‘Jesus saves!’ One passer-by was obviously not initiated in such language, and wanted to know why our Lord was being applauded for His thrifty saving habits.