Devotional 11-28-16
What is the Greatest Delusion that One Can Be Under?
For the non-believer the greatest delusion is that they will someday be in the presence of God without having lived for Him during their lifetime. Many hope that when they pass from this life they will be taken to heaven. Some of the many believe that because they have lived a fairly decent life, they will be accepted. Others trust in the many supposed good works that they may have done. Still, there are others who believe that because they have been faithful to their church they will be accepted into heaven. Jesus said, however, in John 3:3; 3:5, that unless a person is born again he or she will not see or enter into heaven. Jesus told Nicodemus, and us, that a person who is born again is so because of the work of the Holy Spirit. Being born again is in actuality being born from above. God grants new life to those the Holy Spirit regenerates.
For a believer, the greatest delusion is to believe that he or she can be a nominal Christian, but yet be pleasing to God. But, didn’t Jesus say, “If anyone desires to come after Me [follow Me—be a Christian], let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it?” Yes, He did.
Those words were spoken to Peter and the other eleven apostles following their answer to Jesus’ questions, “Who do men (people) say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?”(Matthew 16:13). Peter answered the second question by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew16:16). Shortly after, Jesus told them that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer persecution and be killed. Peter would not accept what Jesus had told them. In refutation to Peter’s denial Jesus spoke the above quoted words. He told them that if they were to be true followers of Him, they must reject worldly ways and accept the principles of heaven, which included His death. Months before He had given them those principles. In His sermon on the mount He said;
“3Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
27You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. 33Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
38You have heard that it was said, ’An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
43You have heard that it was said, ’You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:3-48).
It is not evident from the conversation of Matthew 16 that the apostles had not fully grasped Jesus’ words of Matthew 5? They eventually would grasp them, but they had not at the time. How about you? Have you grasped the significance of Jesus words? We cannot be nominal Christians and be pleasing to God.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man