Skip to main content

A Genuine Christian Is Free Of Self-Deception

When we were young, we were brought up by our parents to what they want us to be. Usually they groomed us to be the person whom they admired and hoped to become but didn't happen. They wanted us to continue the dreams they did not achieved. But I know that other parents wanted to bring out the best from their children and allow them to choose the path they want to take. Whether we like it or not, our success and failure are a product of how our parents guided and influenced us.

It has no difference to what God's desire for us, his children. He surely desire to let us find our true selves whom God plan us to be. But most of the time, we want to be of someone else rather than simply be ourselves. There is no wrong in this attitude, if and only if this desire is also aligned to our capabilities, skills, characters, and God's will and purpose in our lives. Like our biological parents, God is so glad to see his children succeeding in their lives and to all the aspects of it. But if not, then this attitude is just a self-deception and will lead us to failure one day.

Apostle Paul reminded us in Galatians 6:3 when he says "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." We have given the spiritual gifts, talents, and fruits; and God wants us to use them not for our own glory but for Him. We have to serve in God's vineyard but we cannot simply assume any roles, responsibilities, and tasks without His approval. Therefore in everything we do for God's Kingdom, we have to review it at all times as Paul suggest in verse 4 to "Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else."

God wants us to be the person with integrity and be proud of our achievements in different areas of our lives but it must be of no self-deception. He loves us as a real person and not as a puppet that lives only in others expectation. Do not allow selfish ambition, envy, arrogance, and power overcomes us. Rather, let us remain humble before others and before our God and live as genuine as possible without any trace of self-deception. 
 
God bless everyone!

Comments

Explore The Most Read Post for the past year

Put Our Hope In God, not in uncertainties

(Midweek Devotions, 1 Timothy 6:17-21 - 25 Oct 2023) 1 Timothy 6:17-20 17  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  18  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  19  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20  Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,  21  which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. We are in the final last 5 verses in book of First Timothy, an important pastoral letter which is very helpful for any man of God...

Respect - To Serve Them Even Better

(Midweek Devotion, 1st Timothy 6:1-2, 27 Sept 2023) 1st Timothy 6:1-2 1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. One of the great things about the Sacred Scriptures is that, it does not talk about God alone but also talks about His creatures behaviour, particularly human being, more specificallly those who are His people. 1st Timothy 6 gave us an idea of how both one who are UNDER authority and one who are IN authority should behave as bearers of the name of God. The Bible clearly values authority and how important one should submit to an authority over him. The Bible itself claims authority for Truth, thus, no wonder tha...

Spiritual Gifts Are Free Gifts

Acts 8: 18-23 18  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,  19  saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  20  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  21  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  22  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  23  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." All disciples of Jesus have given the power from God through the Holy Spirit. This is something Jesus had told us that He will send us an advocate or a helper and He will teach us with righteousness and will help us to remember everything that He taught us. T...

Wake Up - Stand On Your Post!

2 Samuel 19:5-7: 5 So Joab visited the king at his home. He said, "Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines. 6 You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don't matter to you. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, it would be all right with you. 7 So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!" The 3 chapters (17-19) of the book of 2nd Samuel narrated the story of the how the young Absalom, one of the Sons of King David dreamt to take over his Dad's kingship in Israel. Thanks to the loya...

Know, Knew, and Known in Christ

(Midweek Devotions - 1st Timothy) 1 Timothy 1:1-2      1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,      2  To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today we are starting a new devotional series referencing an epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy. As this letter is personal, let us try to understand the intentions and purpose of Paul to his younger brethren in Christ and co-labourer in the vineyard of God. This first and second letters to Timothy gives us many apostolic teachings, instructions, exhortations, and encouragement in individuals walk of faith in Christ. As the common format of Paul’s letter, he always make a careful introduction and addressing appropriately to whom a letter is intended for. I am always astonishing the way Paul gives introductions and addresses as it reminds us some ethical standards of h...