No Tricks, Just Truth

Ladies, now let’s just say I wasn’t exactly prepared to write about this either, but I just let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit go do! In my devotion time, I’ve been diving into the Word, and a lot of it lately has been on false teachers. Now, I don’t know if I have the credentials to speak on this, but since the Holy Spirit is taking the lead, let’s all gather around and listen.

What I’ve realized is just how many times we see the Bible warning us about teachings that sound good on the surface but lead us away from God’s truth. Jesus talks about wolves in sheep’s clothing, Paul warns about “another gospel” that can easily pull us off course, and in Revelation, we see letters to the churches calling out those who’ve been led astray by messages that twist or water down the truth. It even goes back to the Old Testament! If false teachings weren’t a real danger, they wouldn’t be woven throughout Scripture like they are.

Here’s the thing: today’s false teachings don’t always look as obvious as we’d expect. For example, how often do we hear, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”? It sounds comforting, but it’s misleading. This phrase can actually make us feel like we’re supposed to “handle” everything alone. But sometimes, God does allow us to go through things we can’t handle ourselves so that we’ll lean fully on Him instead of trying to rely on our own strength.

Then there’s the teaching that “if it feels right, it must be from God.” It’s the ultimate “follow your heart” message, and it sure sounds nice. But here’s the thing—our feelings are not always trustworthy guides. Just because something feels right doesn’t mean it is. God calls us to follow His truth, which sometimes goes against the way we feel. And that’s tough, but it’s real.

And let’s not forget the idea that “God just wants you to be true to yourself.” Yes, authenticity matters, but sometimes “being true to ourselves” can drift into putting our own desires above what God is calling us to. God asks us to be true to Him above all else, even when it’s uncomfortable or goes against what we naturally want.

So as we approach this time of year when people are pretending, putting on masks, and dressing up, let’s remember to stay grounded in what’s real. No tricks, just truth.

-Chassitie L.