Ephesians 4:14
We must stop acting like children. We
must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which
are like winds that toss us around from place to place.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One
day last week, I fixed lunch for the children, and I made “ants on a
log.” For those who have not heard of this, it’s celery pieces filled
with peanut butter and topped with raisins. Timothy immediately told me
that he did not like celery, so I made his “logs” with apple slices.
Kids can be picky eaters…and ours are no exceptions. One loves cherry
tomatoes…the others won’t touch them. Zola wants her cheese sandwiches
without mayonnaise…Timothy wants “extra mayo!”
I put some fruit
and Ritz® crackers on the plates, and the children had varied reactions.
Timothy insisted he did not like crackers. I suggested that this
one was more like a cookie…and after close examination and a sniff or
two, he tasted it – and liked it! I know there are some who try to
trick their kids into eating things they don’t like. Some go so far as
to try to “sneak” healthy ingredients into foods the children will eat.
And I guess I do a little manipulating by making the food “fun”…like
“dolphin bananas” and smiley-faced pancakes. But generally, if the kids won't eat something with a little encouragement to try it, I just ignore the situation and let them decide.
Subtle tricks of
manipulation are nothing new. Satan convinced Eve to try the apple in
the Garden of Eden. A lot of folks have been coaxed into tasting
something that they would otherwise never eat because they had no clue
what they were sampling. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the
devil uses slick tricks and manipulations to get us to change our minds
and follow false teachings and listen to someone other than God…and he
does this ALL.THE.TIME!
One of Satan’s best tricks is peer
pressure. If everyone thinks that XYZ is right…especially someone we
know/love/respect – a member of our family, co-workers or fellow church
members – then these opinions must be correct. How often do you see
families who are (at least, to some degree) split apart because one or
two people decide that the “party line” philosophy about certain issues
is not their own? I think one of the devil’s favorite phrases must
be…”It’s always been done this way.” And he truly believes that we will
support this notion!
Today, I am calling on each of us to search our hearts…and God’s word…and see what He has
to say about the issues and challenges of our day. Just as I
encouraged Timothy to try the cracker and see for himself whether he
liked it…I urge you to sample God’s word – in print and as He speaks to
you through prayer and meditation. Listen to Him and trust His
directives. If they differ from the ones of those in your circle of
influence, trust God to give you the strength and courage to stand up
for them.
BE SURE that you are hearing from God…and not from someone in your circle who is telling you what they think God said to them!
Use your brain! Open your own heart and mind and invite God to speak
directly to you. We cannot take someone else’s word for it on these
matters. We have to know for ourselves what God has to say. Have you
talked with Him lately? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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