ESOCS Devotional 29 November 2025 – A Call to the Lost!
MEMORY VERSE: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” James 1:16
TEXT: JAMES 1:13-27
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
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Though it is a short verse, it carries a weighty warning: Be on guard against deception! This verse serves as a bridge between the previous verses, which address temptation, and the following ones, which speak of God’s goodness. James wants his readers to be clear-minded and not fall for lies, especially concerning the nature of God and temptation. The warning, “Do not be deceived” is significant because deception is one of the primary tools of the enemy. From the very beginning, Satan used deception to lead humanity away from God’s truth. In Genesis 3:1-5, the serpent deceived Eve by twisting God’s words, causing her to doubt God’s goodness and disobey His command. Deception often leads us away from the truth, and James is urging believers to stay alert to this danger, particularly in times of trials and temptation.
In the preceding verses of James 1, the apostle warns against misunderstanding the nature of temptation. In James 1:13-15, he clarifies that God does not tempt anyone. Temptation arises from our own sinful desires, which, if not controlled, lead to sin and ultimately death. The deception James warns against here is the mistaken belief that God is somehow responsible for the temptations we face. It’s easy to blame God when we’re struggling, but James calls us to remember that temptation does not come from God, who is holy and pure. Instead, we must take responsibility for our own hearts and actions.
In contrast to the deception about temptation, James then reminds us of the truth of God’s nature in James 1:17, which says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is not the source of temptation; He is the source of all that is good. He is unchanging, always faithful, and always working for our good. This warning also aligns with other Scriptures that caution believers to be vigilant against deception. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Deception often comes in subtle forms, such as distorted truths or half-lies that can easily lead us astray if we are not grounded in God’s Word. Jesus Himself warned of false prophets and teachers in Matthew 7:15, describing them as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” These warnings emphasize the need for discernment and the importance of knowing the truth so that we can avoid being misled.
In addition, 2 Corinthians 11:14 reminds us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Not all deception is blatantly evil or obvious. Often, it appears as something good or beneficial, which is why we must be rooted in God’s Word and led by the Holy Spirit to discern truth from falsehood. The antidote to deception is truth. John 8:31-32 tells us, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” When we are grounded in the truth of God’s Word, we are less likely to be deceived by the lies of the enemy or the deceitfulness of sin.
CHALLENGES
- It is good to be wise in the things and ways of God, so as not to be deceived by the enemy.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, root me in your word and may I walk in truth. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 34:21-37; 36:16-33; James 2:14-26
ESOCS Devotional 29 November 2025
