June 13 — "Cunning Deceptions: When Lies Seem True"

Today's Reading: Colossians 2

Deceivers. Hackers. Scammers. False Teachers. It's a battle out there! The battlefield is real—and the enemy? He’s no rookie. Satan is a master strategist, and Colossians 2:8 warns us of one of his sharpest weapons: Deception—the art of making lies seem like truth. He wraps human traditions, worldly philosophies, and spiritual-sounding lies in attractive, persuasive packaging.

The devil doesn’t barge in with obvious falsehoods. He prefers stealth. False teachers, twisted doctrines, deceptive ideologies, these infiltrate quietly, creeping into the church and capturing unsuspecting believers. His tactics range from doctrinal distortion and worldly reasoning to busyness, distractions, and doubt. Thats why Paul urges: See to it that no one takes you captive by anything not according to Christ. Using philosophies that sound "wise" but oppose Christ and His word, Satan cloaks lies in smooth words and religious-sounding ideals.

In Colossae, one major deception was angel worship and mystical visions. Certain teachers pushed believers to seek deeper spiritual experiences through these practices, suggesting that Christ alone wasn’t enough. Paul calls this out, affirming that Jesus is supreme and sufficient. Any teaching that shifts focus away from Him—even if it sounds holy—is dangerous.

A modern example? The watering down of Biblical truth to align with cultural trends. Some churches soften or sideline clear teachings on sin, repentance, and holiness to seem more "welcoming" and inclusive. Some have coined the label, "seeker friendly" to describe these churches. While there is certainly nothing wrong with churches being welcoming and friendly, this approach—if taken too far—has the possibility of compromising truth and leaving believers spiritually weak. Famous preacher, Charles Spurgeon, remarked on this matter: “If men will not come to hear us because we preach the Gospel, draw them by no other means!”

A soldier who lets down their guard in enemy territory is easy prey. So are Christians who aren’t anchored in God’s Word. If we let deception creep in, our thoughts can be bound, our faith shaken, and our focus shifted from Christ. So, stay battle-ready! Measure every idea against Scripture. Stay alert, armored in truth, and loyal to Christ. Reject every lie that pulls you from Him. The fight is real—but so is our ultimate victory!

May the Lord sharpen your discernment, fortify your spirit, and strengthen your resolve. May He guard your heart from deception and equip you to stand firm against every scheme of the enemy. Your victory is in Christ hold the line!