The word for this week is "guile". We find it in all of these New Testament verses:
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! KJV
2 Corinthians 12:16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. KJV
1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. KJV
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: KJV
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: KJV
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: KJV
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. KJV
These are all the same Greek word, "dolos". Strong's Concordance says that this is from an obsolete primary verb meaning: to decoy, to compare, to trick, use wiles, bait. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: a bait, snare, deceit, subtlety. The Dictionary definition is: insidious and deceitful cunning, crafty and artful deception, duplicity. Though there is a lot of this type of deceit going on in the world today, I believe that we have the advantage of having the Spirit of God living IN us, exposing these things and enlightening us to tactics so that we will not be tricked, fooled, cheated or deceived, but will always be able to make the very best wise, informed decisions! This is something that I have added to my prayers for all of my loved ones, including all of my much loved God family! We are believing that the rest of 2020 will be the best and most blessed months of your lives! Here is Hillsong Worship with "He Shall Reign":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
