Devotionals

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Appearances May Be Deceiving
©2015

by


Stephen A. Peterson


Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewash tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Matthew 23:27 (NIV)

As I checked social media, I noticed several people I attended high school with received forms of communication from individuals allegedly attempting to send them considerable amounts of money or gather information supposedly for a magnificent prize. Fortunately, my classmates never fell prey to what they knew to be scammers. It appears they learned two very good lessons in life: 1) If it seems too good to be true, it is. And 2) Appearances can be very, very deceiving. I was very proud of my classmates!

Rows and rows of sweeting smelling corn may cover the ground where the rotting corpse of a deer lie. A healthy looking pecan tree may be disease ridden ready to fall, a victim of its own decaying core.

A person who presents her/him-self with the most perfect manners may only be skin deep; and if you should scratch your skin, would be enough to allow a bacteria of some sort of a fatal disease to enter. A broad, friendly face does not necessarily mean a broad mind. A clean perfumed body cannot be equated with a clean, sanctified life. A praying mouth not always mean a praying heart.

It is not the clothing that makes a Godly man or woman of a ministry. Clothing changes only one’s appearance—not the personality and intentions in them.


Prayer:

Almighty Father, deliver me and those I know, love and regard from the temptations and evils humankind’s attempts to deceive and destroy. Guard us from their ways, give us strength to resist their deceptive promises and not give in to threats of humiliation, personal destruction and bodily harm. For Your Word, voice and guidance is what I seek, O God, for wisdom and righteousness. Amen.

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