When I first began to read the Bible, one of the many words I had trouble understanding came from John 1:47. While Jesus was assembling his disciples, Philip found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus. As soon as Jesus saw Nathanael he declared, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile.”
Guile actually refers to deceit or deception. It means lacking in honesty, deliberately lying to cover personal flaws and failures so others will only see what is acceptable. Everyone is afflicted with a touch of guile, if only in a moment of vulnerability, but for some people it’s a serious disability.
Fortunately, God provides help to fight against duplicity when there is a willingness to face the truth about failing to live up to God’s expectations.
He knows you and everything about you and still loves you. Now that’s the perfect motivation for loving God and committing your life to him. Do that now. It will last a lifetime.
__________
Jesus saw Nathanael
coming towards him and remarked, “Now here is a true man of Israel; there is no
deceit in him!”
~John 1:47 Phillips –
New Testament in Modern English
The Lord hates liars but
is pleased with those who keep their word.
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