Satan loves a little lie!

God said--

Gen 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you shall surely die.”     
Satan said- Gen 3:1—“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
Eve said—Gen 3:3 –“But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it.’”
Satan said- Gen3:4 “You will not surely die.”
 
            Satan loves when the word of God is changed just a little. A word here, a phrase there is all it takes to change what is actually said. A tiny seed of doubt can change a perspective on what the word of God says. If faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, what can the tiny seed of doubt do to a person’s faith and trust in the Lord?                                                                                        
     When I was much younger, we played a game of ‘gossip’. One person would start the game by whispering a statement. By the time it got to the end of the line, what had been said at the beginning had little or nothing to do with what was said at the end.                                        
     
     A prayer request was sent down the phone lines with a concern for an ‘incurable’ but benign health issue. By the time it got to the last person on the list, the medical problem became ‘fatal’. One word had changed the whole prayer concern. Luckily, the person being prayed about did survive the prayer.  
                     
      We can make a big difference in how we present the word of the Lord by taking something out of context or changing a word or two ‘just to make a point better’. God is capable of writing His message of hope and salvation without us rewording it. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His word never changes. It is new every morning, yet it is unchanging. What I have read countless times (and didn’t really sink in), suddenly is like a huge spotlight that answers my problem.                                                            

      We have many versions of the Bible. Some are easier to read than others. When studying God’s word, a search of different versions can clarify the meaning. A good Bible dictionary helps also. I also like a Bible handbook.                                                                                                               
     God does not appreciate how His word is changed. He gives warnings that express His feelings on the matter. While the following verses may relate to the Revelation, I believe they also relate to the rest of God’s word.
           
      Rev 22:18, 19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophesy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
           
     God has paid a very high price for us. He paid the ultimate price to give us the privilege of eternal life, of living in Christ and Him in us. His word is a love letter 66 books long and as deep as the universe. Trust in Him to know how to say what He wants us to say. He will gives us the right words at the right time. We can’t add to His wisdom and love.

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