Let no man deceive you by any means–-2 Thess.2:3

This just might be the first verse of Scripture that some folks ought to read every morning. We need this reminder everyday. Whether in business, politics, religion, or whatever area of life deception is as common as a sunrise– it happens all the time.

An article in Senior Living said,”One of the most elaborate hoaxes in broadcast history was an April Fool’s joke played on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s current affairs program Panorama, with its rather dignified host Richard Dimbleby relating a story about the annual spaghetti harvest filmed in a Swiss-Italian spaghetti orchard.

For the segment, the producers and cameramen actually flew to Switzerland and hung spaghetti on trees in an orchard. They then filmed local women climbing ladders with baskets and pulling the spaghetti off of the trees and filling their baskets full! And with guitar music added into the background, the final product was complete.

At the end of the three-minute film Richard Dimbleby said, “Now we say goodnight to this first day of April.” In spite of that hint, the next morning it was surprising the number of people who didn’t recognize that the spaghetti harvest was a hoax. The BBC had pulled a big one off on countless viewers across Britain!

It’s amazing how when something is presented to us by a credible source, we’ll often believe it without any questions. This is true when it comes to the lies of the enemy and the world, which often lure Christians into false beliefs. So don’t be hoodwinked by what the world says is true. Instead, focus on what God says is true and trust fully in Him!—Pray that God would give you wisdom to discern His truth from the world’s lies.”

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”–Eph. 4:29

There is so much bad stuff in the world today that it’s easy to become a chronic complainer and critic. Sadly that habit then carries over into other areas of our life. Instead of taking notice of what is right we become obsessed with the things that are wrong, and we express it— over and over again. Many years ago I read this poem that warns us about the importance of the words we speak:

As I watched them tear a building down
A gang of men in a busy town
With a ho-heave-ho, and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and the side wall fell

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
And the men you’d hire if you wanted to build?”
He gave a laugh and said, “No, indeed,
Just common labor is all I need.”

“I can easily wreck in a day or two,
What builders have taken years to do.”
And I thought to myself, as I went my way
Which of these roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by rule and square?
Am I shaping my work to a well-made plan
Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks to town
Content with the labor of tearing down?
“O Lord let my life and my labors be
That which will build for eternity!”

Words have more power than you think. Just as the man in this story boasted about his ability to tear down years of work in just a short time, so your words can tear down people in a matter of minutes.That’s why we need to remember the command given in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Our words to minister to those who hear them. God desires that our words be constructive rather than destructive.

The question is, are you a builder or a wrecker? Do your words minister grace to those who hear them? Are others hurt or helped by what you say? Determine today that you will watch your words more carefully. Seek to build up others through compliments, words of encouragement, wise counsel, and godly speech.

As they crawl out of bed this morning, many will consider this “just another day”– a plain, ordinary day where everything will basically be just the same. But maybe they ought to rethink things. J. R. Miller approached the subject like this—“Perhaps the every-day of life, is not as interesting–as some of the bright days. It is apt to be somewhat monotonous. It is just like a great many other days. It has nothing special to mark it. It is illuminated by no brilliant event. It bears no record of any brave or noble deed done. It is not made memorable by the coming of any new success—-It is only a plain, common day–with just the same old wearisome routine–of task and duties and happenings which have come so often before.”

Wait a minute! Is that any way to talk about such a special gift from God? It is almost as if we resent the fact that we are alive. Should we not be more appreciative? Many will not be so fortunate as to see the sunrise or sunset today, nor embrace their dear loved ones, nor even have a morsel to eat. This will be their last day. Instead of complaining we ought to view everyday as a gift from God and what we do with it as our gift to Him. Your attitude matters. As Miller said,”the ordinary attainment of the common days–is a truer index of the life– a true measure of its character and value–than are the most striking and brilliant things of its exalted moments”. We need to think about that.

Even if this day produces nothing new, noteworthy or pleasurable we are not to despise God’s gift. Be faithful to do what you know God would have you to do and leave the results to Him. There is more to life than enjoying ourselves. If pleasure isn’t a part of God’s plan for you today, take pleasure in the fact that He had something better in mind. Whatever happens He makes no mistakes. Out of the depths of His great wisdom and because of His love, God causes or allows things to come into our lives that are for our good and His glory. Trust Him. You might be surprised at how delightful this day will be if you make it your purpose to please God above all else.

We quickly embrace the scriptures that command us to rest, although there are some exceptions, but most ignore those that speak of working six days a week. This is just another example of the fact that maybe we aren’t as obedient to God as we claim to be. We tend to pick and choose what appeals to us rather than doing what pleases God. And that can be a very costly mistake.

Theodore Roosevelt said, ” The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich theory of life.” He hit the nail on the head.

Adrian Rogers said,”Do you know what is wrong with this generation? For the most part, our young people are unfamiliar with the work ethic of the WWII/Great Depression generation. They simply do not know the responsibility of honest work and hard labor. And sadly, I’ve seen many who simply don’t want to work. They’re looking for a free ride through a lottery or a “get rich quick” scheme.

The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” God commands labor. He says, “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work” (Exodus 20:9).

The ancient Jews understood that this commandment was just as true as the one saying we are to rest on the seventh day. They saw labor and work as a divine imperative. Labor is the gift of God. Work is not a curse.

I don’t care how much money you have. Work is not bad. Work is good. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” It’s good to work.”