Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

Do Not Be Deceived

By Katie Sweeting April 9, 2019 Devotion

Every spring we are inundated with ants. They swarm into the kitchen and try to take over. This year they came early. I don’t like to spray, and the plastic bait traps don’t seem to work well, but when I saw dozens of them near the kitchen sink, I bought a few bait traps. The ants weren’t interested and kept on coming. Then I tried the liquid ant bait. The ants love that liquid ant-killer. They don’t know it’s poison, and they crowd around it and lap it up. Then they go back to their colony and share the deadly drink. They don’t know it’s bad for them. They don’t know that what they are attracted to will destroy them.

The ants were deceived. They were lured in by what tasted good, but was harmful. As I looked at those ants racing to the ant bait, I wondered about the things I am attracted to that are not good for me. What am I reading, watching, listening to, or talking about that is enticing, but deadly. I need to carefully examine how I spend my time, what I allow myself to be influenced by, and the messages I receive. We are inundated with messages – watch this; buy that; read this; believe that. In our modern world we cannot escape immoral images, unholy messages, and ungodly sounds. As an educator, I am confronted with many world views on a daily basis, and I need to stay grounded in the Word of God.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

What can we do? Firstly, be mindful. Secondly, make deliberate choices. Thirdly, continue in prayer throughout the day — praying using the Daily Office or the Divine Hours helps with this practice.

The Apostle Paul has great wisdom on how to keep our minds pure, and meditate on those things that will make us more godly:

6 thoughts on “Do Not Be Deceived”

  2. LaurieLaurie Adams

    Great post today. Yes we are much like the ants, lapping up things that appear appealing but only lead us to danger. May we all be warned and be more wise in our choices.

    1. Katie Sweeting

      So many influences and choices every day – it can be exhausting! We need Jesus every hour – as the hymn writer so aptly wrote.