SUNDAY, MARCH 8
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:33

This verse is a short, straight verse but is clearly power-packed when it comes to issues of deception. This verse says, “Do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits.” What is our first barrier against deception? Get to know the Holy Spirit! What is the second barrier? Make solid, wise choices by carefully weighing who we build relationships with! Stop aligning with mixed-seed potentially questionable people. If the Holy Spirit cautions us and we ignore it, His voice gets diminished. Let’s recognize the next time there is a caution. It comes as an impression, sometimes called ‘a witness’. Let’s use the discernment that the Holy Spirit gives us! By consistently ignoring God’s voice we silence it for a season. The consequence of each disobedience will in effect lower the volume of His voice the next time He speaks. When a conscience is seared, God’s voice is permanently silenced and we are abandoned to our own devices. When we choose to turn from His voice, the volume of His voice dims and fades. Why then should He speak to us if we choose to walk in disobedience putting self and self-interest ahead of relationship with God. In that place it is evident that the turning away of the simple will slay them. Whole-hearted surrender is needed. The real issue is choosing to be deceived and failing to discern the heart of the problem which is selfishness. Rebellion comes in appealing, cunning forms. And what do we do when we find it? When we choose to yield to rebellion sin, rules us. When we choose to yield our life to the Spirit, we live! Yielding to the Holy Spirit brings all choices into review. Let’s remember, we were bought with a price. Our life is not our own. How many deceived believers believe that their life is their own and they can do what they want to do when they want to do it? Their lives may have fallen away to a drastic point yet they do not see that they risk their salvation. Once saved always saved is a doctrine that encourages loose behavior! In Revelations 3:5 to the church at Sardis, Jesus says, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out His name from the Book of Life;…” That is crystal clear! Choose to overcome or get blotted out of heaven!