Self Deception
James 1:22-25
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
When the tow truck driver pulled a gun on Elliot Scott, he called 9-1-1 to report it. But when Chicago police officers arrived on the scene, they discovered that the story was not quite that simple. Scott had actually been trying to steal the tow truck, and the driver had stopped him. The officers arrested Scott. He was eventually brought before a judge where he confirmed that he had indeed made the call which led to his arrest. He thought that calling the police would help him, but he had deceived himself.
It is easy for us to tell ourselves what we want to hear—and then to believe it. We can convince ourselves of almost anything if we are judging by our own standards, thoughts and emotions. The truth is found in the Word of God, and the more we are reading, studying, meditating, and—most of all—applying Scripture to our lives, the less deceived we will be.
We live in a world filled with deception. This comes as no surprise because the devil has a powerful influence on this world. When the Pharisees refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, He said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).
Growth Principle:
A close relationship with the truth of God's Word is the only sure defense against self-deception.