Misleading Promises

“They lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash.” – Ezekiel 13:10 NIV

Some of God’s people had been encouraged by a message of peace. Everyone longed to hear it. The problem? It was not true. Many motivations existed for messages like this. The deceivers may intentionally have sought to mislead, but the deception also could have been well-intentioned, given by people guilty of wishful thinking. Regardless of the motivation, the words were not true, and listeners were being misled.

The Bible reminds us that wishful thinking may help us feel good for a season, but it also can distort our perspective. We are always called to speak the truth and always to be motivated by love (Ephesians 4:15).

This commitment to truth demonstrates that our hearts are right, and we want to serve God more than anything else. We will not cave into inconvenience, pressure, conformity, or personal gain. We will try to do what is right in all circumstances, always aware that God is watching. He knows our hearts, our attitudes, and our actions.

Unless we focus our minds and hearts on truth, we can be vulnerable to deception. We can be deceived by well-intentioned statements or wishful thinking.

Ask God to give you discernment to know what is true and help you not be deceived by well-intentioned statements that are ultimately deceptive. Ask Him to help you focus on Him, stay sensitive to His Spirit, and be committed to speaking the truth.

Reflection Question: How can you temper your words of truth with love?