WEDNESDAY July 1, 2026
Do Not Be Self-Deceived
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
James 1:16-18
James gave Christians good advice; they should not become self-deceived. Deception can be a big problem in a believer’s life. Think about it. How many believers feel they can get away with their sin? Christians cannot sin without consequences. Do not lie to yourself and think you will get away with your sin. God sees everything. Have you not heard of the law of sowing and reaping? Galatians 6:7-8 tells us:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
These verses of Scripture are easily understood. When you plant and water a seed, it will grow. It is the same with sin––a seed of sin will grow stronger and stronger until it is in full bloom. It becomes evident in your life; you cannot hide sin. If there is no repentance, God will reveal your sin. People will see that something is not right in your life.
Sin grieves the Spirit of God. God is just. He will give you a space of time to repent. He will warn you, but if you do not listen expect chastening. Reaping to your sin means you will have to face the consequences. Sin is deadly. If you turn away from God completely, in rebellion, your sin has the potential to bring about your death––it will kill you physically and spiritually. Turn from sin!
To live the Christian life is a blessing. Think about how blessed you are as God has bestowed upon you every good gift. Your salvation is a gift birthed through believing the truth of God’s Word. Seeds of faith have caused you to become His firstfruits. I like that!
The Christian to a large extent carries his future in his hands. If he denies himself and takes up his cross in meek obedience, his deeds will become seeds of life and everlasting glory.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
