James 1:26-27
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one(s) religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we purpose to deceive. Those words were penned in 1808 by Sir Walter Scott in his poem, Marmion. His words have frequently been attributed to William Shakespeare, which adds credence to the way tangled webs of truth and fiction can produce error.
In this fast-paced world where wrong is held out to be right and right is more and more considered erroneous, tangled reality is the pattern of the day. Sadly, as time goes along, I feel that this upside down logic will become the standard.
It is bad enough to become ensnared in the tangled web of deception concerning other people, but it is also possible to deceive our own selves. We start the web tangling by listening and acting to worldly wisdom rather than relying upon the infallible Word of God.
This is the time for self examination. Is our conduct of life based upon the wisdom of the world or what God has said? Do we seek to reinterpret the Bible to suit our own behavior? Confession and obedience to what God says will clear the webs of deceit that entangle us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil