RISKY BUSINESS

Take a look at your social media pages for a minute. Do they really show the ‘real’ you, with all your ups and downs? Probably not! We only share the photos and posts that show us as fun, easy going and the life of the party all the time! We all do it. But, really, it’s a lie, isn’t it? Life isn’t perfect for any of us. But we feel like we have to cover up the uncool, weird or shameful bits, so no one else finds out. This is called deception. It’s lying to others, and to ourselves.

Deception, whether big or small, is nothing new. Jesus talked about the devil as one who “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . for he is a liar and the father of it” (JOHN 8:44, NKJV). The devil, and the world around us, tell us to “live only for the present”, even though that will drag us away from God and everything He offers, now and forever.

Jesus, on the other hand, did not offer His friends an easy life, but told them to give up their lives and follow Him. After telling them that He would be killed and raised from the dead, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (LUKE 9:23-24).

We can either live for ourselves or for God. It’s a risky business to choose the wrong one.

To pray about . . .

Father, I know I often want to look good and for people to admire me. Please help me to focus my attention and my life on You. Only You can give me what I really need.

IF WE HOLD ON TO GOD’S TRUTH, WE WON’T BE TRAPPED BY LIES

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries