Self Delusion
Proverbs 16:2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
You and I, as it turns out, have a great capacity for self–delusion. Now that’s pretty confronting isn’t it? But hear me out.
Deep down, we know that this thing we want to do or to say or to buy … or whatever, is wrong but we really want to do it, or to say it, or to buy it, whatever.
So, little by little, we convince ourselves it’s okay, it’s kind of an incrementalist approach. Rationalising. Justifying. And before you know it, there you are, heading off down the wrong road, about to run into the consequences of the stupid decision we’ve talked ourselves into making.
One of the things that I’ve become acutely aware of in my walk with Jesus, is how naturally I’m inclined to quickly criticise others, whilst at the same time, cutting myself some slack, rationalising my bad behaviour. We’re like that, aren’t we? It just comes naturally.
Someone does something to annoy you – the car in front of you turns right without putting his indicator on. So you want to curse him, or honk your horn at him. What does that idiot think he’s doing? Has he forgotten what the indicator is for? Grrr!!!
But then, just twenty minutes later, you do exactly the same thing. Go figure. It’s really dumb when you think about it, but there you go. That’s what we do.
So, I don’t know about you, but I figure that I don’t want to be that hypocrite. I want to change that, but it’s not something that I can change for myself. I need some help. You?
All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. (Proverbs 16:2)
In our own eyes, our motives may well be pure. But the test … the only test … is what does God say? What’s God’s take on this? What does His Word say? What is His Spirit trying to tell us?
So, I need God’s weighing of my thoughts, my intentions and my actions, to impact my heart. I need to hear from Him in a way that touches me deep down inside, to help me change.
And the only thing that does that, is being in God’s Word. Reading it, receiving it – that’s the big one, having your heart open to receive what He wants to say to you – reflecting on it and then responding to it.
Let me say it again. Read, receive, reflect and respond.
So what happens then, little by little, is that the Holy Spirit convicts us of the error of our ways, our own self-deception, and imparts God’s wisdom, God’s truth into our hearts, to replace the deception.
All your ways may well be pure in your own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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