The Deceitfulness of Sin
October 24, 2008

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

I wish that Satan walked around with a placard that said, “Satan! Beware!” But he doesn’t. Instead, he is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44) and appears as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Some of his most common tools are deceit, half-truths, lies, falsehoods, and trickery.

The simple fact is that we need each other in order to combat the subtleties of sin. We can’t expect that we will never be tricked. We can’t assume that other people will always see sin for what it is. We need to be watching out for one another, encouraging each other in the truth of the Word of God, helping to keep each other on the straight and narrow. Paul speaks on the same theme in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

• Look back over your life: where has the deceitfulness of sin tripped you up in the past?
• Are you involved in any activity, relationship, or thought-pattern right now that should be examined more closely? Perhaps you have felt uneasy about it, or some friends or family members have raised questions or concerns about your involvement?
• Are any of your friends or family members involved in or leaning toward sinful activities, relationships, or thought-patterns? How can you encourage them toward a holy lifestyle?