February 1 - Abounding Deception.

Proverbs 20:16-17
“Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”
 
The pleasures of sin only last for a season.
What seemed sweet at first, soon becomes as sand to taste.
 
Deception is where sin begins.
The devil seeks to devour anyone who is unguarded against his devices. When we neglect to dawn the whole armour of God, we leave ourselves open to his attacks. Instead of approaching us in an obvious way, he often subtly comes wrapped up in everything we have ever wanted.
 
Our fleshly desires are his specialty.
The serpent knew exactly how to get to Eve.
 
Genesis 3:6
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
 
The devil tempts us today in the exact same way he deceived Eve.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
 
1 John 2:15-16
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
 
Each day we must choose whether to live in our flesh, or die to ourselves to that Christ may live through us. Sin is still abounding, but God still has a greater solution.
 
Romans 5:18-21
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
 
The wisdom of this world is deceiving; but God continually offers His Wisdom to all who will believe and receive him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Exodus 13-14  |  Matthew 11  |  Proverbs 1