THE WORLD IS FULL OF TRICKERY

FAITH FOR DAILY LIVING – VOL 436 – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010

Tuesday 26^th January

THE WORLD IS FULL OF TRICKERY

“Don’t drag me away, Lord, with those cruel people, who speak kind words, while planning trouble”. PS 28:3 CEV

It is very easy for Christian believers to think that, because they tend to move in circles where there is a majority of upright people, then most people are honest and straightforward. If we do this then we are walking around with blinkers on. There are good, honest and upright people around. And not all of them are found in Christian circles. But there are deceptive and mischievous people as well.

The psalm-writer feared that, having lost contact with God, he had done something wrong and that God would punish him by sending him amongst two-faced and evil people. Few things are harder for a good and godly person than to have to deal with crooked people, especially those who are friendly to their faces but are all the while plotting mischief against the very people to whom they are being friendly.

It is one of the tough things that we have to face and deal with as and when it arises, and the Christian believer has to be careful not to be naïve about such things. Plenty of people are not sincere. Nor are they transparently honest. They are out for what they consider to be their own good. Christians need to be wary of them and to counter their deceitfulness with honesty and truth even if this means confronting them with evidence of their false appearances. Jesus warned his disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves” (Matt 10:16 GNB)

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, help me to be careful not to get caught out by trickery and deception.

When Barry opened my Faith for Daily Living for the first time this was the page it opened to - he called me and said - "read this - it is about Sulemane Cabir". That was my thought when I read this on 26 January 2010 - I also thought Lord this is about Sulemane Cabir.

Unfortunately for us we did get caught out by the trickery and deception of Sulemane I.H. Cabir.

Lord You are all knowing and You were there with all our dealings with Sulemane Cabir, each and every conversation - You are the Truth, the Way and the Life - we praise Your Holy Name.