Have You Been Tricked?

by Nivine Richie

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:13

Several years ago, Hollywood made a film about a child adopted by a movie production company. In The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey, the boy was raised on the set for the television show and never knew that his “parents” were paid actors. His neighbors and friends were extras. Each day he walked down the street and greeted people that were paid to greet him in return. Then one day his eyes were opened. Instead of his perfect home and neighborhood, he saw an artificial main street. Rather than family and friends, he saw hired hands. His world, as enticing as it was, came to an end when he discovered the edge of the movie set and climbed out.

Sin is tricky. Like a movie set of a neighborly main street with beckoning storefront windows and inviting front doors, sin is an attractive façade. Look closely, however, and we find that nothing is for sale in the store, and no one lives behind those front doors. Sin is a charade, a mirage, a trick. It is never what it seems.

Not only does sin trick us into believing it is desirable, it has a secondary effect as well. Sin causes us to turn away from God. Whenever I’ve toyed with a pet sin, I’ve found myself uncomfortable in church. Believers irritate me. I’m critical of the preaching and the choir stops sounding good. I think I can walk away from my sin anytime I’m ready. Then, one day I wake up to find myself tangled in sin’s deceitfulness. Nothing short of the power of God can free me.

Have you ever experienced the deceitfulness of sin in your own life? Maybe what started out as a small thing turned into a sticky web, and the harder you worked to untangle it, the more trapped you felt. Freedom is available.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.                          1 Corinthians 10:13

I look back on those seasons in my life where I’ve been stuck in sin. Like the lead character in The Truman Show, I’m amazed that I was too deceived to see through the façade and recognize reality. I don’t need to be overwhelmed by temptation because God is faithful; He always provides a way to exit the movie set.

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About the author:

Nivine Richie is a women’s Bible study teacher in Wilmington, N.C., where she lives with her husband and two teenage children. A university finance professor, she is actively involved in the Christian faculty association on campus. Nivine has participated in and taught many small group studies over the years. She seeks to help others launch their own small group studies and is available to speak at women’s events.

This devotion is adapted from her new book, Enduring Faith: An 8-Week Devotional Study of the Book of Hebrews, available from Amazon on kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KUZCZFS/ and in print at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941103111/

Visit her at www.unfoldinghisword.com to find tools to help you grow as a small group leader.

Contact her at nivine@unfoldinghisword.com

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or on Twitter at @UnfoldHisWord