3/12/2023 0 Comments Seeking whom he may devour![]() It is likely at this point that God transferred His agape love, His unconditional love, unto mankind with the desire that man would handle his every interaction with his fellow man in accordance with the kind of love we’re told about in 1 Corinthians 13. He at least hoped man would be of peace and not of strife. I believe it was then and there that man became an image bearer of God. Consider that God’s intent, at the moment when He breathed his breath of life into man, was to impart His image on mankind in full measure. (Romans 15:33 16:20) Regarding the creation of mankind, God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” (Genesis 1:26 2:7) He directly breathed the breath of life into man’s nostrils. The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.” The New King James Version states, “…your adversary walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.īecause we are in a spiritual battle, we cannot afford to indulge the “luxury” of strife. He has studied us for a long time, and he knows what will trip us up.Įugene Peterson’s translation The Message says, “Keep a cool head. He moves slowly and cautiously – after all, well-laid plans take time. Instead, he begins by bombarding our mind with a cleverly devised pattern of propaganda, including a hierarchy of nagging thoughts, suspicions, doubts, fears, wonderings, reasonings, and theories. He tells us things about ourselves, about other people, and about circumstances, that are just not true! He usually will not tell us the entire lie at one time. Jesus called him the father of lies and of all that is false. It is clear that as long as we are alive on this earth we will need to study what God’s Word teaches on the the various areas of thoughts and deeds.Ĭlearly, the devil is a liar. Today, I long for finding the guidance and divine influence of the Holy Spirit. Joyce Meyer, in her seminal book Battlefield of the Mind (1995), says, “How can we express the importance of our thoughts sufficiently in order to convey the true meaning of Proverbs 23:7: ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.'” Frankly, the longer I serve God and study the Bible, the more I realize the importance of God’s thoughts and words. Whether you recognize it or not, Satan is the one who influences us to respond in the wrong way. It is easy to get embroiled in the dispute to the point that you cannot see your own part. Have you ever had a falling out with an individual, perhaps a family member? I am presently struggling with this very problem something I brought on by my actions. Frustration, resentment, unforgiveness – all can leave a blemish. Spiritual dynamics are constantly taking place around us. There’s much more to life than what we can see – the physical, natural, surface-level realm. Embezzling from your employer – one example from our local television station involved a bookkeeper taking nearly $100,000 from her employer – can land you in prison. Stealing a loaf of bread, even when out of necessity, puts you at risk for a criminal charge, which will blemish your record for years to come. Infidelity could cost your marriage, and typically leaves emotional scars on the couple and any children. An accident could damage your car, other property or, worse yet, cost someone their life. The speeding violation could cost you money and put points on your driver’s license. If you’re driving over the speed limit – something I used to do quite frequently – you could get a ticket or cause an accident. ![]() It’s easy to realize there are consequences (and rightly so) for what we do in everyday life, some worse than others. But when you yield yourself to obedience, you serve God, who is the author of righteousness. ![]() WHEN YOU YIELD YOURSELF to sin, you’re serving Satan, who is the author of sin.
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