August 14, 2025

BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?”

Galatians 4:12-16 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

There is a shift in Paul’s tone. After strongly confronting the Galatians about turning from the gospel of grace, he appeals to their shared history and the deep relational bond they once had. He invites them to remember the love, joy, and freedom they experienced when they first received the gospel.

Let’s explore two insights from this passage:

1. Long-Term Relationships Anchor Us Spiritually

Paul’s words are rich with personal emotion. He reminds the Galatians how, despite his physical illness—possibly a severe eye condition or even malaria—they embraced him, not with judgment, but with love and care.

“You would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me…”

Their relationship wasn’t built on superficial agreement—it was forged through shared struggle and spiritual awakening. That’s the kind of relationship that holds steady when disagreements or doubts arise.

As my dad used to say:

“God and time will prove what is true.”

Time is a tester. Genuine friendships—those anchored in shared faith and tested through trials—are a gift from God in the spiritual journey. They help us stay grounded in truth.

2. False Teachers Don’t Feed the Lost—They Steal the Sheep

Paul makes it clear: the Galatians didn’t just get confused. They were influenced by people with an agenda. The Judaizers were not pointing people to Christ—they were pulling them away from grace, and from Paul, who had loved them deeply.

This is a pattern with false teachers:

• They discredit godly leaders to gain influence.

• They present themselves as the only trustworthy source of truth.

• They build their own kingdom, not God’s.

False teachers may use Scripture, charisma, or “exclusive insights,” but they always elevate themselves and diminish the gospel of grace. This is how spiritual deception and even cult-like dynamics begin.

The Takeaway

• Pursue lasting relationships in the body of Christ. Build trust. Invest time. Let others walk with you in weakness and strength.

• Be discerning. Don’t be swayed by flash, flattery, or manipulation. Look for fruit. Is Christ being lifted? Is grace being preached? Are lives being transformed?

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help me build authentic and lasting relationships in the family of God. Keep me anchored in grace and truth. Give me discernment to recognize false teaching and the wisdom to stay close to Jesus—my Savior, my Shepherd, and my Truth.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”