What Scripture Reveals - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2024

Bible in a Year : Genesis 25-26, Matthew 8:1-17

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world.
2 John 1:7

Today's Scripture & Insight : 2 John 1:4-11

In April 1817, a disoriented young woman was found wandering around in Gloucestershire, England, wearing exotic clothes and speaking an unknown language. Assuming she was a beggar, authorities placed her in prison. However, she convinced her captors that she was Princess Caraboo from the island of Javasu. For ten weeks, the community treated her as royalty until a boardinghouse keeper revealed that the woman was, in fact, a servant girl named Mary Willcocks.

We may wonder how this young woman deceived an entire community for almost three months. But the book of 2 John warns us that deception is nothing new as it mentions “many deceivers who . . . have gone out into the world” (1:7). These are people who deny that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh” (v. 7), or those who go beyond what Christ taught (v. 9)—proclaiming that the Bible isn’t adequate for us today. Both these types of deceivers can cause us to not “receive [our] full reward” (v. 8 nlt) and can even trick us into helping them in their work (v. 11).

No one likes to be deceived. The people of Gloucestershire didn’t lose much, just some clothing and a few meals. But the Bible says that the consequences of sin and deception continue to threaten us. As we engage with Scripture, God will help us avoid deception as we “walk in obedience to his commands” (v. 6).

By: Brent Hackett

Reflect & Pray
How do you watch for false teachers today? What will help you read, reflect on, and respond to Scripture?

Dear Father, please help me to stand firm on the wisdom of Scripture and not be deceived.