Daily Devotional for July 31, 2010

Colossians 1:13
God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son…

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Many years ago, some teenage boys were spelunking in the area now known as Blanchard Caverns. This was probably the late 1950’s, before the caves were developed for public exploration. These boys found themselves deep within the cave … and they got lost. As the felt around in the scary darkness - not knowing where they were, what was surrounding them, or how to escape - they felt their way along with just the tiny beams of light from their flashlights. Then the unthinkable happened … their flashlight batteries died. Now they were in total darkness.

Miraculously, help came. The boys made their way to an opening in the caves that leads to the outside world, and they were rescued. Today this opening is covered by a metal grate, so that no one can accidentally fall into what could be a world of darkness and danger.

The dark power of Satan is somewhat like that cave … full of all sorts of unknowns, holes, crevices, slick and slippery spots, and dangers at every turn. Many of us are still fumbling around in the cave of Satan’s darkness. We have not recognized that God stands ready to pull us up out of the pit and save us from all of this. He wants to bring us into the light, joy and peace that surround Jesus and give us a place of safety there – and to cover the opening with the “grate” of salvation through Jesus Christ!

For those of us who have been rescued by God, we still want to dance near the edge of the cave sometimes. We peek over the edge and dabble with the temptation and allure that lies in the dark, mysterious pit. We need to stop this! We need to recognize that the power, grace and mercy of God that saved us … the life in Christ and the blessings of His kingdom … are more than enough. We need to be done with Satan, once and for all, and rest in the joy of the awesome rescue of our Almighty God.

Where are you today? Have you managed to get far, far away from the opening to Satan’s darkness, or are you still dancing along the edge, toying with the temptation of what lies beneath? Isn’t it time you moved away once and for all? Is today the day?

©2010 Debbie Robus