Deceitful Kisses

Proverbs 27:5-6 - "Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

"Its okay, God loves you for who you are!"

"Don't change anything about you, just be yourself!"

"Forget about them. There isn't anything wrong with with you."

I believe that these statements (and many like them) have been thrown around for so long that people see them as encouragement in the midst of their trouble. The problem is, we are quickly deceived by the outward shell of these words and we do not see the danger that lies within. If taken face value, we see that statements like these are a sweet melody to our souls and they are uplifting to our hearts that are so weary from the scorn of people who seem to wish us harm.

Beloved, the truth we need to realize is that our enemies are not only the obvious ones that cause us pain but they are those people who may try to console us with these false words of encouragement.

Our enemies are not just the ones whom we fight face to face. Indeed, it is easy to spot our foes that may be in the distance racing toward us ready to devour. With this sight, we prep ourselves for war by girding our loins and anticipating the battle that is about to take place. What we do not know is that the enemy has infiltrated our nation and homes and has disguised himself as the people we love and trust. Now we are fighting a war from the inside out, not realizing that we are slowly being defeated by the well-trained spies of the enemy.

Many people probably wouldn't give those words stated above a second thought. Since they always seem to please us so much we never get to see the real truth behind them. Words like these (and others like them) are deadly to a person. They are poison concealed by an outer layer of false goodness.


"Faithful are the wounds of a friend.." We know that the occupation of our enemies is to constantly cause us grief, but what of our friends? Surely God did not intend for our friends to hurt us, right? Wrong. The Father lets us know that our true friends, indeed, are called to cause us pain. But this pain is quite different from what you are use to. Everyone knows that hearing the truth about our faults or mistakes is never pretty. The "truth hurts" is the simple statement that we like to use. We would rather choose to be ignorant about our shortcomings because the pain that is attached to truth is almost too unbearable. The Proverb tells us that our friends cause us a to hurt but in a different way. Why are these wounds caused by our friends so faithful? How can any good ever come from pain?

True friends tell us the truth. As hurtful as it may be, we know that a clean penitent man is far better off than one who is dwelling in the filth of sin. For the moment, this reproof may be sorrowful, but we must remember that the righteous fruit that is produced is well worth enduring the pain for a short while (Hebrews 12:11). The family and friends that love us, will always correct us when we go wayward. If I were to stray away and my loved ones were to neglect bringing me back, then how could they say that they truly love me? The love of a friend will guide you to a righteous standing with our Lord even if there is temporary heartache. For we know that it is far greater to be righteously hurt by a loved one than it is to be comforted by the world. May our fellow brothers and sisters assist us in the path to repentance and may our enemies who produce worldly sorrow be far from us (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Beloved, may we not be deceived by those who say that they are our friends. Even the religious elite (even the ones we look up to) will attempt comfort us through empty words of wisdom and consoling lies. If we are not careful, the kisses of our enemies will bring us down when we least expect it. The truth is that many have been taken captive by the world and enslaved by its lies. Their theology has been corrupted. They have neglected God's Truth and have traded it for the "sweet" philosophies of man. These people have been blinded by the prince of this world, and they are among us (Matthew 7:15). Be discerning brethren! We must never embrace sin! For this will slowly kill us from the inside. Like a cancer unknown to a man, we will live our lives in sinful ignorance as if we were in good standing with our Lord. Be on alert! Be mindful! Be guarded! Especially when sweet words are said and that which is essential for our lives is left unsaid.

Father, may we NEVER compromise the Truth!

I have been wounded by my friends and family. They have struck me with the double-edged Word of Christ and it has truly put me in my place. My prayer is that in this blog, I may also faithfully wound you my friend, so that you may come to see the truth of the Gospel and live a holy and righteous life that is free from sin. The words I write will offend many and will cause others sorrow. No matter how effective this may be I praise God for this opportunity. Even if only one is led to repentance, Glory to the Almighty! If none, still I say Glory to the Almighty!

Beloved, for me to love you, is to righteously hurt you with God's holy Word of truth. And I also pray that those who are lost may also come to understand the Gospel of Christ (through this blog if God wills). That they may seek true repentance and gain a life that glorifies and worships the holy One true and living God.