You ever notice that when someone is deceiving you, they find it hard to look into your eyes? I've noticed that before. Those who would take advantage of a situation to their benefit regardless of the other party's condition! Those are the people that the first part of Proverbs 12:20a is speaking when he says, "Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil."
We can all see this happening in everyday life without even turning on the television and watching the news. Deception seem to be a way of life for some in this world. And that is just as it should be! Why do I say that? Well this world belongs to Satan. This is clearly noted in Ephesians 2:1&2 when Paul writes "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." Yes, to some, deception is a way of life.
However Proverbs 12:20b continues by saying "but counselors of peace have joy." There is a major contrast here between the first part and the last part of the passage in Proverbs. And so with Christ in our hearts, we can see and tell the difference between one who would attempt to compromise us and the one who would bring joy to us. This would be the gift of "Discernment" for the Christian.
During this Holy week that we are in, that is exactly what we saw when Jesus said to Judas in Luke 22:48, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" This is just an educated guess but I am supposing that at this point Judas cannot look Jesus in the face and take this action.
And so we live with deception and joy as we carefully discern life.
Dave
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