Daily Devotional
"But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions..."
Joshua 9:3-4
The Gibeonites didn’t attack Israel with weapons; they attacked with words. They came with carefully crafted spiritual language, acknowledging God’s mighty works and using all the right religious terminology. Their opening words were calculated to appeal to Israel’s pride in God’s victories. “We have come from a distant country because of the name of the Lord your God,” they declared, making Israel feel like spiritual celebrities.
Flattery is one of the enemy’s most effective tools because it makes us feel spiritual while simultaneously blinding us to truth. When someone praises our ministry, our church, or our spiritual maturity, our natural defenses often drop. We become vulnerable to deception precisely when we think we’re being honored for our faithfulness.
The Gibeonites had done their homework. They knew exactly what Israel wanted to hear and delivered it perfectly. Today, spiritual manipulators operate similarly, using familiar Christian terminology and referencing biblical principles to gain our trust before introducing their agenda.
Today's Challenge
When has flattery made you vulnerable to poor spiritual decisions? How do you typically respond when someone praises your spiritual life or ministry?
Prayer
Lord, help me recognize when flattery is being used to lower my spiritual defenses. Give me the wisdom to see past smooth words to the heart behind them. Protect me from pride that makes me vulnerable to deception, and help me value truth over praise. In Jesus' name, Amen.
