Daily Reading: 6-14-16
Psalm 130:1-5 New Living Translations (NLT)
The spirit of deception is busy seeking to cause God’s human family to destroy one another. Deception always presents as truth, but it is evil, twisted, misleading, and self-serving at its core; all about personal advantage and power over others. In contrast, the Spirit of Truth calls us to gather to God, as His children, and grow together as we experience and learn about His love.
My heart is burdened in recognizing the evil deception that drove a young man’s terroristic thoughts and actions to rob the freedom and life from so many innocent people in Orlando this weekend. It breaks my heart that some people may be so deceived that they think this young man’s actions pleased God. As well, my heart is burdened by the knowledge that any human being can be a host to evil deception when we do not submit ourselves to and respect God who created us to live in His loving image. The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us understand the Truth of God’s love and our great need to learn from Him.
I pray for people to turn to God and connect to Love in these difficult days, because Love is the only thing that will sustain us when facing the mountain of deception that evil throws our way. First Corinthians 13:4-8 reminds us what a person who lives loyal to God’s Love (modeled by Christ) actually exemplifies: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”