I’m reading Ezra 4 and I’m also reading Matthew 1-2 and I’m reading posts online and they are all saying the same thing: Evil comes with a nice face.
In Ezra it came looking like an offer to help rebuild the temple and when Ezra told them the Israelites alone must rebuild it, their true colors were shown (Ezra 4:2).
When the wise men came to worship Jesus Herod requested that they report to him where Jesus was born so that ‘he too could worship’ (Mt 2:9). The truth was he wanted to kill him.
And I saw this post the other day from Sean Feucht about media and I think this is lies with a nice face also:
Top 5 Media Lies
1. You have to talk to the Media.
2. They want to give you a platform to present your side.
3. Their readers/listeners/watchers are interested in your side of the story.
4. The story will be better for you (or the work of the gospel) if you talk to them.
5. This is your chance to convince a hostile world to respect the church.
Jesus says this:
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)
And naturally they will use your rejection of their “kind will” as proof that you are not a team player, you don’t want unity, you aren’t willing to cooperate, etc…
Sometimes the efforts of others are genuine. At other times kind gestures are wolves in sheep clothing.
We must listen closely to the Lord and discern the difference, acting courageously when the time comes.
