Many kinds of lies deceive people into believing the wrong thing or not believing the right thing. Some believe "an oracular utterance, or rumor, or a letter" (2 Thes 2:2) without testing the Spirit (1 Jn 4:1). Some don't hold fast to the traditions we've received in the Bible (2 Thes 2:15). Others don't hold fast to the traditions we've received by word or letter through the Church (2 Thes 2:15). If we don't go by the Bible, we'll be deceived, for "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133, St. Jerome). If we only go by the Bible, we can still be deceived. We need the Church, "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tm 3:15.)
To avoid being seduced "no matter how" (2 Thes 2:3), we need to know Jesus personally and give Him our lives. We need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, Who guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13) and protects us from deception (1 Jn 2:26-27). We also need to know and live the Bible. God's word is truth (Jn 17:17). Finally, we need the Church. Many Spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christians disagree on important truths. We need the Church to protect us from our human weakness. We need Jesus the Truth (Jn 14:6), the Spirit of truth (Jn 16:13), the word of truth (Jn 17:17), and the pillar and bulwark of truth (1 Tm 3:15), the Church.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I accept everything You provide to prevent me from being seduced and deceived. |
| PROMISE: | "First cleanse the inside of the cup so that its outside may be clean." –Mt 23:26 |
| PRAISE: | James once could not believe the joy of Christians was real, but now experiences it himself. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College