Cheaters

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."
Colossians 2:8

We have all experienced the emotion that accompanies being "duped" and then one day realizing the truth. There is embarrassment, hurt, sometimes shame, anger, and foolishness. There is a whole gamut of emotions that come flying at you all at once, and you just want to lash out, to get even, to make the person who perpetrated this upon you to pay for what he/she did. The closer the person is to us, the stronger that desire seems to be, "Make them pay!" But that is not how Jesus would have us react. "'Vengeance is mine. I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). There have been times when I have been wronged, that I so badly wanted to lash out. But I remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord, so here is what I do. I begin praying that the Lord would revenge my name. That the Lord would take His vengeance out upon the person who perpetrated this pain in my life. It is the prayer of David in many of the psalms, for all you "nay-sayers" out there. Then I don't have to worry about it anymore. The Lord can deal so much more effectively than I ever could. So I just pray the Lord's vengeance upon the people, and that I would be vindicated.

Now, at the risk of sounding like a holy assassin, or someone out there on the lunatic fringe, I also react in a way that is inward. I take a good hard look at myself, and what I should have done, or could have done, to make this person treat me like this. Again, I react in prayer. "Lord, is there something in my life that needs correction? Holy Spirit teach me to be better in this area." And then I ask myself, "How was I led astray so easily?" Then answer to that one is usually this: By taking my eyes off of Jesus, and from following Him, and being led by the influence of man.

Beloved, Paul writes to the Colossians that they not be led astray, and let anyone cheat them through the wisdom of man, which is far inferior to the wisdom of God. Paul writes that they not be cheated through persuasive words or ideas that come from man. The people who were doing this in the church at Colosse, were spreading heresy, which came to be known as Gnosticism, from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. It is in the world today, in many forms. There is even a form of it that has invaded the church, so beware, my beloved. It is an exaltation of the intellect and the experience over the Word of God. Don't let anyone cheat you out of your walk with the Lord. Don't let anyone cheat you out of taking your eyes off of Jesus. And don't let anyone in the church cause you to start focusing on doing things, or being a part of the right group. Focus on Jesus, and you will never be cheated. Amen.