“One of the greatest points of spiritual self-deception is believing that having knowledge is the goal of the Christian life. [James] says that demons have good theology and feel the weight of it, but it makes no difference to them. . . . It’s possible to know about God without cultivating a deep friendship with him.”- Rich Villodas
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”- James 2:19 (NIV)
As Rich Villodas moves on in Chapter 11 of The Narrow Path, he stresses that mission matters in God’s kingdom. But motive also matters. Because everything we do needs to flow from love of God and neighbor. Above all, in his book Theology as a Way of Life, Adam Neder warns that motives get mixed even when we’re trying to serve God. Adam counsels:
“If you teach the Christian faith and that does not unsettle you, you are not thinking straight.”
Therefore, we may find ourselves doing things for our own glory, not God’s. Or believe that we’re doing God’s will even when we’re not. Thus, Jesus issues a clarion call to examine our own decisions today. To discern whether we opt to follow our wills, someone else’s, or God’s.
However, as Rich observes, it’s one thing to discover God’s will and quite another thing to actually do it. Most significantly, this represents one of the great tools of following the narrow path. Certainly, we all make mistakes. But it’s imperative that we stop to consider God’s will.
Because lack of reflection, apart from Jesus, snowballs into the lives of religious activity. And then that snowball’s hard to stop. Hence, Rich underscores, to do God’s will necessitates that we know His will.
Therefore, Pastor Villodas advises, we need to:
- move from discernment to decision, not letting the baggage of past failures imprison us.
- seek God, rather than fixate on what we want and shooting from the hip.
Today’s question: What most helps you avoid the trap of spiritual self-deception? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Biggest hindrance to the gospel”