2 Corinthians 11:1-3
Will you put up with a little
foolish aside from me? Please, just for a moment. The thing that has me
so upset is that I care about you so much—this is the passion of God
burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented
you as a pure virgin to her husband. And now I’m afraid that exactly as
the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away
from the simple purity of your love for Christ.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Have
you received a telephone call from “the IRS” declaring that you are
about to be slapped with a lawsuit and insisting that you call a certain
number and provide personal information? Of course, it’s a scam. The
IRS would never call and tell you such a thing. But it sounds so official, doesn’t it?!
When
I was probably about 10, I got a new bicycle. A boy who lived several
blocks away from us came along one day and asked if he could ride the
bike. I told him he could…and he took off down the street! My dad
caught up with him on the other side of town…the bike was returned…and I
was told that I was not to allow anyone to ride my bike except my
siblings or our closest neighbor friends.
We’ve all seen the
stories on television of lonely people who were duped by an online love
interest who bilked them out of their life savings…and this
“boyfriend/girlfriend” turned out to be some con artist in Nigeria or
somewhere who stole the identity of a real person and impersonated
him/her to elicit the money.
My point in sharing these three
illustrations is that there is something in all of us that wants to
always believe the best in people. And yes, many of us can be gullible
at times…myself included. But what we often fail to realize is that
Satan uses these situations to get us into trouble. Not only could we
lose our life savings, our property…or our identity…we could become so
discouraged that we would turn away from God…or begin to behave in an
ungodly manner.
If we are not careful, we could get swept up into
a frenzy of falsehoods, rumors and innuendos…and we could become
accomplices who engage others to join in these dishonest activities. We
could easily stoop to Satan’s level…and essentially never know what hit
us!
So we must stay awake and alert. We must focus on God and
the things that please Him. We must be kind to others…but we must also
pray for wisdom and discernment, so that we do not fall prey to the
wiles of evil or deceptive people and circumstances. We must encourage
others not to engage in divisive behaviors or illicit activities…but
rather, to seek God and demonstrate what Jesus taught us - love, grace,
mercy, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, and unity.
Do not be
mistaken…the devil is incredibly crafty and clever. He has skills! He
can worm his way into our hearts and minds faster than you can say
“Bob’s your uncle!” He will try to convince you that Jesus wants you to
do these things – that He has ordained them! Don’t grow complacent and
think this can’t happen to you. Don’t drop your guard! Stay close to
God…listen for His voice…pray always…and use your head! Stop and ask,
“What would Jesus do?” or “What would He have me do in this situation?”
And if you have been drawn into something you know is not sanctioned by
God, get out…now…and ask Him to forgive you and set you on the right
path again.
The Apostle Paul had it right…we have been washed
spotless by the blood of Jesus and become part of His church – His
“bride.” We cannot risk staining our “wedding garments” now! Wouldn’t
you agree?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label devil's influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devil's influence. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2015
2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose I told you that in order to belong to a certain church in your community, you had to support a particular political candidate or social issue. No one would openly discuss this, but it would be understood by everyone that this person was the “Christian” choice - or this social issue was “black and white” with a clear right and wrong side. And these were GOD’s choices. To support anyone else – or the opposite side of said issue – would be the equivalent of saying, “I’m not really a Christian…and I am more than a little wrong!”
In small groups and other church activities, there would be little to no open, direct discussion of this candidate and/or social issue. But there would be enough “What is the world coming to?” and “God is punishing us” talk that everyone would get the message loudly and clearly. And there would be an “us vs. them” undercurrent within the church. If anyone questioned the general “stance” of this church body, the reply would be that the majority was operating on God’s behalf…and the “tone” would be that these tenets were not to be questioned.
You think this doesn’t happen in our churches today? Think again! Do you feel that I am exaggerating? Let’s get real for a moment. There are a lot of churches that operate along party lines – with membership that is both liberal and conservative and a clear and deep underlying divide along these “sides”. Less common, but more troubling, are extreme pockets of “church folk” who have gone so far as to create autonomous leaders who can do as they please…even if that means “marrying” 14-year-old girls and fathering children with them – or putting little boys in the fields to do manual labor to support the church body at large. Just watch the story at http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/2015-05/08-2020-050815-flds-a-house-divided.
The thing you and I have to be most concerned with is the little inroads that the devil tries to make in our daily lives “in the name of God.” We have to be very careful that we are not sucked into this deceit…that we focus on Jesus’ commands to “Love one another” and to love others as He loves us. This means we must love and serve unconditionally, inclusively and without discrimination. We must learn to express our opinions without an ounce of judgment or superiority…leaving room for others to make up their own minds about things like politics and social issues. It is one thing to say, “I support XYZ”…but quite another to say, “If you love God, you will support XYZ.”
We must focus on cultivating deep and abiding, intimate relationship with God, so that we KNOW when we are hearing from Him…and when we are listening to outside forces. We have to guard our hearts and minds against becoming so caught up in being right (if only in our own minds) that we pick a fight with anyone who challenges us, rather than recognizing that Satan and his agents are having a heyday!
I know this may seem like a threatening or even fearful message. But this is where we need to truly get honest about faithful discipleship and what it means to be a Christian. We need to be busy listening for God’s voice. We must be steeped in His word and digging deeply to find out what HE is telling us, rather than those who have an agenda. We should be going to God in prayer for answers and opinions and considering how outside opinions and influences “stack up” against them – or they don’t. We need to learn to be comfortable in our own “skin” – the New Life in Christ Jesus that He has so graciously given us. We need to weigh everything against His standards and make sure that all thoughts, words and actions line up accordingly. If we do these things, we have nothing to fear.
False prophets live among us…but we don’t have to fall into their camp – or even give them the time of day! Who are you listening to these days? Are you able to tell right from wrong? Have you opened the door even slightly for the devil? It’s time to close that door, lock it…and throw away the key! Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose I told you that in order to belong to a certain church in your community, you had to support a particular political candidate or social issue. No one would openly discuss this, but it would be understood by everyone that this person was the “Christian” choice - or this social issue was “black and white” with a clear right and wrong side. And these were GOD’s choices. To support anyone else – or the opposite side of said issue – would be the equivalent of saying, “I’m not really a Christian…and I am more than a little wrong!”
In small groups and other church activities, there would be little to no open, direct discussion of this candidate and/or social issue. But there would be enough “What is the world coming to?” and “God is punishing us” talk that everyone would get the message loudly and clearly. And there would be an “us vs. them” undercurrent within the church. If anyone questioned the general “stance” of this church body, the reply would be that the majority was operating on God’s behalf…and the “tone” would be that these tenets were not to be questioned.
You think this doesn’t happen in our churches today? Think again! Do you feel that I am exaggerating? Let’s get real for a moment. There are a lot of churches that operate along party lines – with membership that is both liberal and conservative and a clear and deep underlying divide along these “sides”. Less common, but more troubling, are extreme pockets of “church folk” who have gone so far as to create autonomous leaders who can do as they please…even if that means “marrying” 14-year-old girls and fathering children with them – or putting little boys in the fields to do manual labor to support the church body at large. Just watch the story at http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/2015-05/08-2020-050815-flds-a-house-divided.
The thing you and I have to be most concerned with is the little inroads that the devil tries to make in our daily lives “in the name of God.” We have to be very careful that we are not sucked into this deceit…that we focus on Jesus’ commands to “Love one another” and to love others as He loves us. This means we must love and serve unconditionally, inclusively and without discrimination. We must learn to express our opinions without an ounce of judgment or superiority…leaving room for others to make up their own minds about things like politics and social issues. It is one thing to say, “I support XYZ”…but quite another to say, “If you love God, you will support XYZ.”
We must focus on cultivating deep and abiding, intimate relationship with God, so that we KNOW when we are hearing from Him…and when we are listening to outside forces. We have to guard our hearts and minds against becoming so caught up in being right (if only in our own minds) that we pick a fight with anyone who challenges us, rather than recognizing that Satan and his agents are having a heyday!
I know this may seem like a threatening or even fearful message. But this is where we need to truly get honest about faithful discipleship and what it means to be a Christian. We need to be busy listening for God’s voice. We must be steeped in His word and digging deeply to find out what HE is telling us, rather than those who have an agenda. We should be going to God in prayer for answers and opinions and considering how outside opinions and influences “stack up” against them – or they don’t. We need to learn to be comfortable in our own “skin” – the New Life in Christ Jesus that He has so graciously given us. We need to weigh everything against His standards and make sure that all thoughts, words and actions line up accordingly. If we do these things, we have nothing to fear.
False prophets live among us…but we don’t have to fall into their camp – or even give them the time of day! Who are you listening to these days? Are you able to tell right from wrong? Have you opened the door even slightly for the devil? It’s time to close that door, lock it…and throw away the key! Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 24, 2011
Psalm 112:9-10
They lavish gifts on the poor— a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life! Someone wicked takes one look and rages, blusters away but ends up speechless. There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The other day I was talking with a friend who said, “I just walked into the kitchen to get aluminum foil, and I opened the refrigerator. Do you ever do things like that?” Do I ever! I do silly, dumb things all the time… and no, I am not losing my mind. I may be spreading myself a bit too thin at times, but I think that much of this is the devil’s work… just when I think I have it somewhat together, he throws a monkey wrench in everything!
The devil will never stop trying to trip us up and dole out grief and troubles. He will never stop blustering and raging and telling us that we are wasting our time to help the needy… that we should focus more on ourselves than on that guy with his hand out. The devil will tell us that we’re not good enough, smart enough, or physically and mentally capable of handling the challenges he throws our way… and he will work every day to prove it!
But God will have none of this. If we stay close to Him… if we call on God in prayer and constant conversation and fully allow Him to have control of our lives… nothing can defeat us. The devil’s dreams and aspirations of taking us down will crumble.
We must gladly serve others in God’s name. We must face each day with confidence that whatever comes our way, God can give us the strength, courage, and whatever other “tools” we need to handle it. We must strive to live an honored life – a beautiful life – in spite of the dreams of the wicked. With God, all things ARE possible… they really are. I'm not saying we won't ever open our refrigerators again to look for aluminum foil... or do other things absentmindly or make mistakes and blunder around for awhile. But at the end of the day, we can know that God will tap us on the shoulder and say, "Hey, the foil is in the drawer!" and help us get back on track.
Where are you putting your faith and trust today? Are you listening to the wicked bluster of Satan… or are you honoring God with a faithful generosityand a genuine effort to listen to HIS words above all others? Who truly has your heart – and your attention?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2011
1 Samuel 17:39-47
David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods and shouted, "Come on! When I'm finished with you, I'll feed you to the birds and wild animals!"
David answered: You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I watched the movie Secretariat. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your list to rent soon. As we watched, I told my husband, “There seems to be a lot of sadness (and struggle) in this story.” He laughed and said, “You remember how it ends, don’t you?” I did, but still, the writers/directors had done a great job of maintaining the suspense and interest… and weaving stories of interpersonal relationships in along the way.
We know how the “story” ends with God, too. We know that He always wins his battles… and yes, most of us know – if only deep down – that God will help us defeat our enemies. But we tend to waste a lot of time trying to change the story… even when that makes no sense. At best, we try to fight our own battles, handle things our way and on our own timetable… and in essence, we walk through life burdened with all of the armor that weighed David down and would have impeded his ability to fight.
It’s time we took off the heavy armor… the defense mechanisms, the defeatist attitudes, the worry, frustration and fear that the devil tries to heap on us… and let God fight our battles. He may fight for us – or He may work through us to accomplish His purposes. Either way, we know how this ends… God wins! And if we trust him to fight our battles, so do we.
©2011 Debbie Robus
David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods and shouted, "Come on! When I'm finished with you, I'll feed you to the birds and wild animals!"
David answered: You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I watched the movie Secretariat. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your list to rent soon. As we watched, I told my husband, “There seems to be a lot of sadness (and struggle) in this story.” He laughed and said, “You remember how it ends, don’t you?” I did, but still, the writers/directors had done a great job of maintaining the suspense and interest… and weaving stories of interpersonal relationships in along the way.
We know how the “story” ends with God, too. We know that He always wins his battles… and yes, most of us know – if only deep down – that God will help us defeat our enemies. But we tend to waste a lot of time trying to change the story… even when that makes no sense. At best, we try to fight our own battles, handle things our way and on our own timetable… and in essence, we walk through life burdened with all of the armor that weighed David down and would have impeded his ability to fight.
It’s time we took off the heavy armor… the defense mechanisms, the defeatist attitudes, the worry, frustration and fear that the devil tries to heap on us… and let God fight our battles. He may fight for us – or He may work through us to accomplish His purposes. Either way, we know how this ends… God wins! And if we trust him to fight our battles, so do we.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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