The worst kind of deception is self-deception. When you have been deceived by someone else and that deception is discovered, most people deal with it swiftly and decisively. However, self-deception is rarely dealt with because most people feel they are right and will never look inwardly.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)

All through God's Word we are warned about deception. Deception is the tool that the serpent used when he deceived Eve. (2 Corinthians 11:3) Deception is a tool of the enemy. Self-deception, however, is a result of the flesh and ignorance. The term self-deception itself denotes that the deception comes from within, rather from without. The enemy is a deceiver. In the same way God wants us to be holy like He is holy, Satan wants us to be like him and he is the father of deception.

Because of pride, Satan rebelled against God. When pride enters into the heart of man, he is a candidate for self-deception. Obadiah 1:3 says, "The pride of your heart has deceived you." According to the Word, we have been warned against self-deception. The following is a list of eight basic ways we deceive ourselves.

1. Hearing the Word but not doing it. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)

2. Thinking too highly of yourself. "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." (Galatians 6:3)

3. By not acknowledging sin and repentance. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10)

"For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me." (Romans 7:11)

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

4. By placing faith in the world's wisdom. "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness.'" (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

5. By not bridling our tongue. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:26-27)

6. By not understanding sowing and reaping. "Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 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." (Galatians 6:6-8)

7. Worldly associations. "Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33)

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14)

8. By not understanding the source of good and evil. "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." (James 1:16-17)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

So in conclusion let me say this. God's Word is true. If we walk in the truth of His Word instead of the opinions of worldly men, we will not be deceived.

Devotion 0424