Dear Friends and Family,

READ 2 SAMUEL 14:1 THROUGH 15:37

Sir Walter Scott wrote, “What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

David’s son Absalom set out to deceive people and rebel against the king. He was a good-looking young man, and he had the charisma to charm people with his convincing rhetoric. He persuaded people he cared about thpem more than his father did.

"Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel" (2 Samuel 15:6).

But under that layer of charisma lurked a deeper layer of treachery. Absalom wanted to be king. As he attracted more and more followers, the conspiracy gained strength—enough strength to cause David, the rightful king, to flee for his life.

Absalom’s motives were the problem. His goal wasn’t to care for the people, but to gain personal power and take over the kingdom. Deceit isn’t God’s way. Be honest about your motives. Our motives show our true heart, for some they use deceit to gain an advantage, like Absalom. Others use deceit to hide pain or fear. We are called to be honest and speak truthfully with one another.

Thought for Today: Our motives show our heart’s condition. How is your heart? Come to Jesus with your situation and allow him to transform your heart, heal any hurts, and realign your motives to godly ones.