3 Day Bible Reading Plan: “Deception”
The heart can’t hide. That’s the central truth Jesus wants us to understand today. People can cover up their true nature for a time. They can construct elaborate facades, carefully crafted personas designed to impress, to manipulate, to deceive. We, too, can hide behind a false sense of self, clinging to comforting illusions, burying uncomfortable truths, and convincing ourselves that we are somehow better, wiser, or more righteous than we actually are. But this hiding, this charade, cannot last forever. Sooner or later, the truth will emerge, the mask will slip, and the reality of the heart will be revealed. - Pastor Paul Crandell, 6/1/25
Day 1
Featured Verse: Matthew 7:15-23 - “You will recognize them by their fruits.”
How can believers accurately distinguish between true and false prophets in today’s world, given that "false prophets" may appear in subtle or charismatic forms, as described in Matthew 7:15?
What does the metaphor of "fruit" reveal about the nature of authentic faith, and how might this apply to evaluating both personal spirituality and the teachings of others?
In Matthew 7:21, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father.” What does this suggest about the relationship between verbal profession of faith and obedience in Christian life?
Pause and Reflect: Lord, grant me discernment to recognize true prophets by their fruits and align my heart with Your will. Help me live authentically, bearing good fruit that reflects Your love and truth.
“Those that go no further in Christ’s service than a bare profession, he does not accept, nor will he own them in the great day. See from what a height of hope men may fall into the depth of misery! How they may go to hell, by the gates of heaven!” - Matthew Henry
“Not every one—That is, no one who thus calls upon me, without obeying my will, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven… A mere verbal profession will not avail.” - John Wesley
Day 2
Featured Verse: Galatians 5:22 - “The fruit of the Spirit.”
How does the "fruit of the Spirit" reflect the character of God, and what does this suggest about the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life?
In what ways can the qualities listed in Galatians 5:22, such as love, joy, and peace, serve as a measure of spiritual maturity in both individual believers and Christian communities?
How might the concept of the "fruit" of the Spirit contrast with the "works of the flesh" mentioned earlier in the chapter, and what does this reveal about the tension between human nature and spiritual renewal?
Pause and Reflect: Holy Spirit, cultivate in me the fruit of Your presence—love, joy, peace, and all that reflects Your nature. Guide my heart and actions to bear this fruit abundantly, glorifying You in all I do.
“The fruits of the Spirit are so called because they are not the product of our corrupt nature, but of the Spirit’s renewing grace… Love is placed first, because it is the source and fountain of all the rest.” - John Calvin
“The Spirit’s work is seen in the fruit He produces—love that seeks the good of others, joy that rests in God, peace that flows from reconciliation with Him. These are the marks of a soul truly alive to God, and without such fruit, we must question whether the Spirit dwells in us.” - J.C. Ryle
Day 3
Featured Verse: 1 John 2:3-4 - “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar.”
In what ways might the claim “I know Him” be misinterpreted in modern Christian contexts, and how can believers ensure their profession of faith aligns with their actions?
How should the stark warning in 1 John 2:4 influence the way Christian communities address hypocrisy or nominal faith?
How can the principle of knowing God through obedience guide believers in discerning authentic faith in themselves and others without falling into legalism?
Pause and Reflect: Lord Jesus, help me to truly know You by faithfully keeping Your commandments in my daily life. Transform my heart so that my actions reflect my profession of faith—let my love for You be true.
“A bare profession of religion, without the power of it in the heart, is but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. To say we know God, and yet live as though we do not, is to deceive ourselves and to walk contrary to the gospel of Christ.” - George Whitefield
“A man may speak much of Christ, and yet if his life be not holy, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him; for the Spirit of God works obedience in those who truly know Him.” - Robert Murray McCheyne
