My hubby, a Former Special Forces, approached me after mowing our lawn, “I remember when I was in Virgin Islands, St. Thomas. One time there was a blackout due to a hurricane. They used a generator but after a while black out happened again. It took a while to figure out that the bad guys had turned on a lawnmower to sound like a generator.”
Whoa, what an illustration! As Christ’s followers you must be watchful and be alert when the enemy who sounds good and angelic in your hearing, feeling, taste, and sight could not steal your inner joy and peace as you yield to temptation.
Common struggles among women in the Bible study or prayer meeting who pray and share concerns that end up discussing sticky issues about someone. This turns into the juicy gossip of the moment.
While doing the Lord’s work you viewed someone’s struggles and miseries. As you compared it to yours, you thought with pride, “Thank God I am not like him-her.”
At home there was misunderstanding and you started thinking that you are better than your family member, instead of reaching out with love and compassion to know and settle the issue.
A compact disc that you listened to sounded like gospel or enlightening music but later you found out that it has a new age movement message that you are greater than God. It happened also to books, magazines, television shows, internet, and other media that appeals to your senses that led you to dishonoring thoughts, words and actions against the will of your only powerful Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
This world is full of deceptive voices, personas and sounds that could take you away from the ways of the Lord. Beware and be watchful! Don’t sit in the dark and listen to the lawnmower.
Father God thank you for your assurance in Genesis 4:7 (NIV), “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted, but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have, but you must master it.” I pray and praise You that when sin starts to lurk at the entrance of my desires, You strengthens me through Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and other believers support and pray for me. Thank you Holy Spirit for helping me to discern and overcome sin. Amen.
Lilian Hosfeld 