Let No Man Beguile You: A Warning Against Fleshly Spirituality

Let No Man Beguile You: A Warning Against Fleshly Spirituality

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head…” — Colossians 2:18

This verse is a warning from Paul to believers who were being influenced by people claiming to be deeply spiritual, but who were actually leading others away from Christ. Paul is not talking about losing salvation—our salvation is secure in Christ. He’s talking about losing reward: the eternal blessings and fruit that come from walking faithfully, growing spiritually, and staying connected to the truth.

Some people were presenting themselves as very humble and holy, even claiming to have special visions or experiences with angels. They looked spiritual, but their hearts were proud. They were puffed up by their own thoughts and feelings, not by the truth of God’s Word. Paul says they were “intruding” into things they hadn’t really seen—pretending to understand spiritual things that God hadn’t revealed to them. And worst of all, they were not “holding the Head”—they were not staying connected to Christ, who is the Head of the Body, the Church.

In simple terms, Paul is saying: don’t let anyone trick you into following a kind of religion that looks deep but is actually empty. Don’t be impressed by people who act humble but are really showing off. Don’t chase after visions, rituals, or spiritual experiences that take your eyes off Christ. These things might feel powerful, but they are fleshly—they come from human pride, not from God.

The Mirror, the Sword, and the Seed

The Mirror, the Sword, and the Seed

Most people treat the Bible as a motivational quote—a quick pick-me-up, a soothing balm for the moment—when in truth, it was never meant to merely comfort us, but to confront us, to cut deep, to reveal what lies beneath the surface of our well-managed selves. The Word of God is not a decorative verse for the fridge door but a mirror that shows us who we really are, a sword that divides between soul and spirit, a seed that demands soil, surrender, and time.

If your reading feels dry or distant lately, don’t rush past it or blame your mood—pause instead, and ask the harder question: “What is this passage exposing in me that I’d rather not see?” Because conviction, though uncomfortable, is not the enemy of grace—it is its companion. It is the Spirit’s gentle way of saying, “There’s more for you than this.”

We are not called to read for reassurance alone, but for renewal. Not just to feel better, but also, more importantly, to be changed. And that change begins when we stop treating scripture as a checklist or a pick-me-up and start receiving it as a living conversation with the One who knows us fully and loves us deeply.

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17, KJV)

So today, let the Word do its work. Let it search you, stir you, and sanctify you. Not because you’re failing—but because you’re growing.

Transformed to Prove – Resisting Reprobation (Part 5)

Transformed to Prove – Resisting Reprobation (Part 5)

Our journey so far has traced the spiritual tension between proving and reprobation. Part 1 introduced the scale of the mind—where every believer is called to prove what is acceptable to God, lest they drift toward reprobation. Part 2 explored the Greek roots of dokimazō and adokimos, showing how approval and rejection hinge on spiritual testing. Part 3 reminded us that we live in a season of probation—a time to respond to truth before the test ends. Part 4 revealed that love is the key to discernment, enabling us to approve what is excellent. Now, in Part 5, we turn to the believer’s response: to be renewed in mind and disciplined in life. These two are not just spiritual goals—they are the very means by which proving is made possible and reprobation is avoided.

Renewal: The Mind’s Defence Against Reprobation

Paul’s charge in Romans 12:2 is clear:

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Renewal is the spiritual antidote to conformity. The world presses in with patterns that dull discernment and suppress truth—exactly the conditions that lead to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). But the renewed mind resists that drift. It is reshaped by truth, refined by Scripture, and realigned with God’s will. This renewal is not optional—it is essential. Without it, the mind remains vulnerable to deception, unable to prove what is “good, and acceptable, and perfect.”

Living on Probation: The Season of Testing (Part 3)

Living on Probation: The Season of Testing (Part 3)

Before we continue, let us briefly recall the journey so far. In Part 1, we introduced the spiritual scale of the mind—a line stretching between proving and reprobation—and how every believer is called to discern and demonstrate the will of God. In Part 2, we examined the Greek roots of dokimazō (prove) and adokimos (reprobate), revealing how Paul’s language frames a divine test of the mind. Now, we turn to the space in between: the season of probation, where proving must take place and where the outcome is still being shaped.

Understanding Probation as a Season of Grace

Probation, in its biblical sense, is not a sentence of punishment but a season of opportunity. It is the time in which a person is given the chance to respond to truth, to walk in obedience, and to be found faithful. It is the state of being tested—not yet approved, not yet rejected. It is the tension of grace and responsibility. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines probation as “the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character and being qualified for a happier state.” This definition aligns beautifully with Scripture, which consistently presents life as a proving ground for the soul.

Though the word “probation” is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout its pages. From Eden to the wilderness, from parables to epistles, God has always given His people time to choose, to yield, and to be tested.