“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:6-9 NKJ
“Pull the wool over someone’s eyes” means to deceive, to lead astray, to betray, or to cause someone to believe an untruth. In my study for this devotion I wanted to know where the term originated. One day I read the following description that best described the meaning, as it pertains to what I am talking about in this devotion.
“The *wool* referred to, however, was once just slang for "hair," synonymous with the powdered wigs worn by gentlemen several centuries ago. The most powerful ones with the most elaborate hairstyles became our first bigwigs. It was then no simple task for a *bigwig* to take an innocent stroll down a city street with young hooligans lurking around every corner. As a malicious act, a joke, or for purpose of thievery, they would often pull the wig (the wool) down over said gentleman's eyes, enabling them to make off with his purse in the process. This was similar to *hoodwinking* a person. To do so was to literally cover his eyes with a hood or other covering to obscure his vision. Figuratively, it came to mean blindfolding someone mentally in order to prevent him from seeing the truth.” Taken from "A Word with You" (Nov 12, 1998)
Did you notice that pulling the wig (wool) over someone’s eyes was for the purpose of stealing their purse? For the Christian, what does the purse represent? It is your identity, purpose, ministry, relationships, peace, joy, confidence, etc. Who is “hooligan” in the Christian’s life that lurks around every corner? 1 Peter 5:8-9a says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith,” What is the purpose of his mission? John 10:10a says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” And this is not a new tactic of the enemy either. In fact, his goal of stealing the “purse” started in the Garden of Eden. Look at what Eve said to God in Genesis 3:13 after she had eaten of the fruit. “And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
From the beginning satan has been on a mission to steal our “purses” and his biggest tactic is to “pull the wool over our eyes” through deceiving us into believing his lies over God’s Truth, just like he did to Eve! This is why it is so important to know how to operate in the authority given to us through Jesus Christ. Whether we are presented an opportunity, face a life storm, encounter a temptation, or have a decision to make; we have to be vigilant in knowing who we are as New Covenant Disciples so we are not deceived by the enemy. For the Christian being vigilant means to have the Word treasured up in our hearts, so we know the voice of God. It means to understand the simplicity of who we are in Christ so we don’t get confused with every wind of doctrine that comes our way. This is why in 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul said, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
If we are going to “share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:6) we have to know what He teaches and apply it to our lives on a daily basis. It isn’t that we don’t have the ability to learn, it is that most Christians don’t take the time to learn. Many people fill their minds with carnal things or are so overwhelmed with the cares of life; that they don’t spend time with their teacher, Jesus Christ! This is why Galatians 6:8 says, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” You could change the word everlasting to the word abundance and it would confirm John 10:10b where Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The NLT version says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” And the NIV says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
So my question for you today is are you experiencing the abundant, satisfying, and full life that Jesus promises or do you struggle day to day trying to make it through in your own strength? Do you know the voice of God or has the enemy deceived you into believing his voice over the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do you walk upright in the authority given to you by Christ, which enables you to be vigilant? Or are you downcast and trodden, which makes you a prime target to have the wool pulled over your eyes and your purse stolen?
Prayer: Take time to meditate on 2 Peter 1:3-4 and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to learn from Him, so that you can walk in the authority and power given to you through your covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
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