Misleading Invitation

MISLEADING INVITATION

August 31, 2010

~Denise Grant

Imagine opening an envelope with your name written in beautiful calligraphy on the outside. Inside is an invitation which reads: "You are hereby invited to enjoy a life filled with misery, worry, anger, and confusion."

Would you be so eager to respond, "Yes", to such an outrageous request? Of course not! And yet, many of us choose such a life every day. Oh, not that we blatantly make that choice, but unfortunately too often we surrender - even temporarily - and at times, even unknowingly - to Satan's misleading invitation to such a life.

The enemy bombards our minds with every weapon at his disposal. We are engaged in a raging warfare that never ceases. Although we can put on the whole armor of God and stand fast on the Word of God, we will never be able to put a complete end to this war. As long as we are alive - our minds remain Satan's battlefield.

Satan comes seeking to destroy and has been quite successful since the Garden of Eden. His first real victory was when the serpent asked Eve, "Really, none of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn't eat any of it?" Genesis 3:1. Satan was suggesting God was strict, stingy, and selfish for not wanting Eve to share His knowledge of good and evil. This sinister way, made Eve forget all that God had given her and focused on the one thing she couldn't have.

Eve could have rebuked the tempter; instead, she told him, "Of course we may eat it. It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn't eat it or even touch it, or we will die." Genesis 3:2-3. But the serpent said to the woman, "That's a lie! You'll not die! God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like him, for your eyes will be opened - you will be able to distinguish good from evil!" Genesis 3:4-5.

What we seem to often miss about temptation and the battle the enemy levels against us, is that he always comes to with deception. With him, there is no other way. Suppose he had said to Eve, "Go ahead, eat of the fruit. Once you do, you'll bring misery, anger, hatred, fighting, poverty, and injustice into the world." What do you project Eve would have done? Right - she would have bolted and ran away. He tricked her by lying and telling her exactly what he knew would appeal to her. Doesn't he do the same to you?

The evil one promised, "You will be like God. You'll know the difference between good and evil." Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve. "You will become like God!" Isn't that really the goal for all of us - to be more like God? It wasn't like He was tempting Eve to do something bad - he merely phrased it in such a way that what she heard sounded too good. Satan misled Eve. He led her to believe she could defy God's authority by taking God's place and deciding for herself what was best for her life. We sometimes have the illusion that freedom is doing anything we want. God says true freedom comes from obedience and knowing what not to do. Such restrictions are given to us for our good, showing us how to avoid evil.

You see, this is the appeal of sin. The temptation is not to do evil or to cause harm or even bring injustice in the world. The lure is that we will get something outta the deal for us. We're a selfish and prideful people and Satan knows it.

It worked on Eve, and it works on us today. "The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too." Genesis 3:6. Unfortunately, our sins do not always appear ugly to us, and the "lovely" sins are always harder to resist. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, "The wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you and no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it."

Eve lost the first battle for her mind, and we continue to fight for the same since that time. But because we have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can win - and we can keep on winning! Don't be misled by the master of deception.

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Heavenly Father,

It's a constant battle I admit, to consistently resist the onslaughts of Satan. He attacks my mind and even sometimes, makes evil seem worthwhile and something good and fun. Help me to win against the enemy's temptations, no matter how deceptive they appear. Help me to see through them and recognize the sender. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

SHAKEN BUT NOT STIRRED

August 2, 2010
~Denise Grant

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 16:8 NIV
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What shakes you? For parents, the list can be unending. From the loss of a child, the death of a parent, unemployment, financial failure and marital woes; our lives are so often battered and bruised. But whatever the circumstances, remember that the Lord your God, is always at your right hand.

In the Bible, the "right hand" symbolizes the Kingship of God. He is the King of all kings, the Ruler of all rulers, and the absolute authority over all things.

I particularly enjoy, The Living Bible's interpretation of the above Bible passage; "I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall."

In this passage of Psalms, I believe David was talking about the unique sense of security felt by believers. We are human, and can't resist being shaken by tough times - but as believers, there's little cause to be stirred by such times.

God is accurately aware of what you can handle (and acutely aware of what you can't). He will never allow even the slightest smidgen more than you can take. You see, God sees the big, bigger and biggest picture of your life. My favorite Christian author, Max Lucado writes, "God has not only read your story, He wrote it." He sees and knows all, even your future.

Those who seek after God can move ahead confidently feeling secure in the knowledge God is holding our right hand as He steadies our steps.

Now, this doesn't mean that God will sweep away all the hard knocks of your life, as if they never happened, but it does mean that at just the perfect time, He'll arrive on time, and will supply exactly what you need to get through the earthquakes of life, and usher you safely to a solid and firm place of relief.

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Father God,

I know we all make plans for our lives, yet so do You, Lord. Help me to let go of my own agenda so You can be in charge. Take my right hand and steady my walk - every day - all along the way. When my life circumstances become shaky, as they so very often are, be my firm foundation, so I may bask in the peace Your love and guidance brings. In Jesus' name, Amen.

CAUGHT IN THE STORM

August 1, 2010
~Denise Grant


"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders, he'll carry your load, he'll help you out."
Psalm 55:22 MSG

While waiting for lunch to be served at our favorite restaurant recently, I was telling my three small grandsons the story about Jesus and His disciples caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. After painting a descriptive picture of the terrible weather that rocked their tiny boat that day, I asked them if they would be afraid in such a storm like this. Undaunted by the scenario, the oldest now seven, immediately replied, "Not if Jesus was in the boat with me."

You know my friends, during the horrific storms that often dot the landscapes of our lives, we must remember that Jesus IS in the "boat" with us. We are never in danger of being separated from, or deserted by him, just because the "atmosphere" around us appears life-threatening. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can ever separate us from the love and protection of God.

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Heavenly Father,

Help us always be mindful no matter how the wind threatens to shove us from our foundations, or as the waves crash heavily against us, You refuse to leave us unprotected. You remain lovingly present inside our "boat" and promise to calm our storm. Thank You Jesus for Your love and protection as the weather of life rages against us. Amen.