I'm strange. I know. But in the absence of a successful cutting garden, I am drawn to artificial flowers. This morning, I grabbed a handful of some and poked them into this pitcher. To me, they look real. From a distance, anyway.
While I was doing this, I thought about the book we are using for our ladies' Bible study--Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free (Nancy Leigh DeMoss).
Most of the lies we've studied this so far "look" awfully close to the truth--sort of like good artificial flowers.. They're very deceiving. Here were the lies about sin that were pointed out and refuted by God's truth in the chapter "Lies Women Believe...About Sin":
I can sin and get away with it.
My sin isn't really that bad.
God can't forgive what I have done.
I am not fully responsible for my actions and reactions.
I can't walk in consistent victory over sin.
"Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth." (Jesus in John 17:17)
The Truth IS:
I CAN'T sin and get away with it.
My sin really IS that bad.
God CAN forgive what I have done.
I AM fully responsible for my actions and reactions.
I CAN walk in consistent victory over sin.
I'll probably continue to enjoy "good" artificial flowers.
And though I sadly confess I have sometimes acted
as if I believed a few of those lies,
as if I believed a few of those lies,
I choose God's truth about sin
and His power to walk in victory OVER it!
Very good application, Rebecca. Absolutely true! I was thanking the Lord just this morning for all the beauty that abounds right now, including the overflowing flower baskets uptown!
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy with the flowers. I think that the most dangerous tool in Satan's hands is a lie that closely resembles the truth.
ReplyDeleteI know the Truth... It's just that sometimes I get lazy. When I drop my guard is when Satan has a field day. When I remember that I am naked and put my armor back on, I have victory over the lies!
Blessings, Debbie
Thoughtful post here about sin and artificial flowers to illustrate it.
ReplyDeleteAmen! (On a side note, I had to use fake roses for my bridesmaids bouquets in my wedding. The florist's batch of real roses died before they made it into the bouquets. I couldn't even tell the difference...They were still beautiful!) :)
ReplyDeleteAs always you have shared some inspiring thoughts.This seems like a great Bible study, blessed by the truths and points in this chapter.
ReplyDeleteNancy DeMoss great writer. Thanks for sharing.
Sue
So true and a wonderful analogy. I enjoyed
ReplyDeletethis. The flowers are lovely and really do
look real--at least from here!
So true. Great post...and I love good artificial flowers!
ReplyDeleteI keep some artificial flowers too. I was thinking that when we believe those lies, we become like 'artificial flowers', pretending to be something we are not.
ReplyDeleteRebecca,
ReplyDeleteThose flowers didn't look artificial at all, and yes there are some really lovely silk flowers used to decorate classy hotel lobbies that can deceive.
The way you compared the false flowers to lies we believe is powerful.
You are so right about the lies... a lie is a lie no matter how it is packaged. Flattery is a lie, a half-truth is a lie...
My dad when I was a little girl said that I have to always remember that when I lie to another person, it means that I have first of all lied to myself. I have never forgotten that.
I love your posts which are always so concise and direct to the point, yet powerful.
Blessings on your new day, dear Rebecca.
Love
Lidj
Pretty flowers--artificial or not!
ReplyDelete