Avoid the Error of Self-Deception

Daily Devotional

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Self–deception occurs when you know the truth (which is the word of God) and not do it.  It manifests itself everytime we hear the word of God and not translate it into action.

Many of us are guilty of hearing and talking about the word of God. But, what is needed is for us to hear and do what it says. It is good to talk about the word of God but the real benefits come from doing.

It was not talk that caused the tent of meeting to be built, it was the result of Moses doing the word of God. The Isrealites did not have the luxury of talking themselves across the Red Sea; they had to move forward as the word of God said. Abraham could not stay at Haran when God told him to go to a place that he would show him and still enjoy the blessings that came with doing what the word says.

The world belongs to those who do the word of God James 1:22 says “but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” It is not good enough to hear and talk about the word of God, you must do it. James regards hearing and not doing as deceiving yourselves.  It is self-deception because ultimately it is robbing yourself of God’s blessings and promises. There comes a time when you must say, enough is enough, it is time to do the word of God.

There is nothing more important than doing the word of God, whatever has hindered you in the past from moving from hearing to doing, you must now put it behind you.    . 

Life Application: Recommit today to do whatever the word of God says, comes what may.

Prayer: Lord, May I never operate in self deception. Help me to walk out the word and do exactly what it says. In Jesus name, amen.