Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, June 28, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Self-deception is not to be taken lightly. Many of us are absolute geniuses at it. As a recovery addict, I have been challenged repeatedly to look honestly at my motives in every interaction that did not go so well, and often in advance of any action I might need to take in the future. Even when my motives appear absolutely clean, I sometimes find that underneath wanting to do what is best in a given situation, I’m really acting selfishly to make my own life easier rather than taking myself out of it and being of genuine love and service to another person. So I guess what I’m saying is that in those moment when I think my years of disciplined spiritual practice somehow qualify me to be unreflective about my actions—or, if you will, if I say I have no sin—then I am self-deceived. And even if, in the moment, all comes off well and no one is hurt, ultimately remaining in a state of dishonesty erodes my serenity and will eventually push me into even further self-deceit in order to hide the truth from myself, which, as you can imagine, compounds itself over time. In all things, it’s best to be completely honest with ourselves and with God, even it’s just to admit that we’re not sure our motives are 100% clean. Asking God for help goes a long way toward moving us into a state of willingness to be honest.
How do I recognize when I am being dishonest with myself about my motives in a given situation? How can I be more aware?
