But that is not the real reason for this blog. I know...........surprising, right? :)
Yesterday in church we heard a song from our worship team. It was a Bob Dylan song. Most churches (I assume) don't sing Bob Dylan songs, but it was perfect for the message. The song was "Gotta Serve Somebody". Our band totally rocked it!
And my favorite lyrics were "It might be the devil, it might be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."
But this past year, I have learned a lot about the devil- AKA The Strongman, Satan, Fallen Angel, the Prince of the World.....whatever you choose to call him. And yes, if you are new to Christianity, talking about the devil can freak some people out. We want others to know the love of Jesus, the good stuff. Which is true.
Some people hear the word devil and picture the red guy with horns and a tail and a pitchfork. I don't picture that in my head. I got interested in learning more about "The Dark Side" when I heard something in a Bible study. The Bible referred to him as "The Prince of the World".
Well, I heard this statement and was like WHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTT????
I was very confused. So I talked with some people who had been ACTIVE Christians for a while and I did a little research.
Here is a little research for ya:
Question: "How is Satan god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)?"
Answer: The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions.
Satan is also called the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. To say, for example, that Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" is to signify that in some way he rules over the world and the people in it.
This is not to say that he rules the world completely; God is still sovereign. But it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must remember that God has given him domain over unbelievers only. Believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13). Unbelievers, on the other hand, are caught "in the snare of the devil" (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the "power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2).
So, when the Bible says that Satan is the "god of this world," it is not saying that he has ultimate authority. It is conveying the idea that Satan rules over the unbelieving world in a specific way.
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-god-world.html#ixzz2XAEDV4Vo
Well, to say the least this intrigued me. So, I started reading up on it. No, I'm no Satanist. But I did learn a lot about HOW he works.
But here is what I really learned: he is everywhere. The research I read (all Christian based) taught me how he can slowly creep in our lives, the tools he uses, and the methods he uses. He doesn't do it quickly............it's a slow game for him. He doesn't want you to think he's really changing your life if you CHOOSE to follow him on some decisions.
Yesterday's service was about choice. Joshua said he and his family will choose to serve the Lord. He was telling the Israelites it was time to make that choice and stick to it. (a side note- that is my license plate!!!!!)
So to take a few books that I read and sum it up- your choices have a side. Ok, maybe not Pepsi versus Coke, but 99.9% of your choices in behavior have a side. Yes, I believe (this is MY opinion) that there is no gray here. Your actions and thoughts and behavior are black or white. It may not be obvious at first, but if you truthfully look into your actions and choices, they do either glorify God or glorify the devil. Good versus Evil.
So, come on, think about it, really think about your behavior from as simple as a word you speak under your breathe (BTW God hears all of those) to how you drive (one of my biggest challenges at times with others inability to drive correctly) to what you watch on TV to how you treat others.
Some are obvious- how you really treat others (not just to their faces, but behind their backs), how you use the money God trusted you with, etc.
Some aren't so obvious and that is how the devil likes it. From a simple TV show, to the magazines you see as you stand in the grocery store, to how you act after a few drinks, to how your mind may wonder in church during the message (not MINE Brian, never MINE- LOL)
Read the Screwtape Letters- very insightful to how the devil eases into your life.
Some may say (and I was one) "Oh it's just a show" or "its a funny movie" or "I just like reading these magazines for fun, it doesn't do any harm to anyone". And no, it may not at first, but over time these shows and movies, etc. that we watch for fun start to "numb" us from what is good and what is bad. This is especially true with our youth- the shows that are on for our kids, especially ABC Family are trash to the Christian faith. They have sex, drugs, gossip, etc. and our kids start to think that is how the real world works and it's ok to hop from bed to bed. HELLO PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, sorry- started to go off there. But the truth is the devil and his sick ways are everywhere. Martin and I went to see Hangover 3 a few months ago and I was like well, ok, I'm sure it's still funny. But as we watched it (and Martin even made a comment to this) all the filthy words and stupid craziness and ways people treated each other were just.....well, not funny to us anymore. I'm not saying we are perfect cause Lord knows we aren't. I'm not judging others here, I'm stating how as we take our faith more seriously, we are seeing and trying to live the way Jesus wants us to and not feeling forced to do it. You just don't want to see movies like that anymore or watch shows like that anymore. I was kinda surprised one night when Martin sighed really loud and changed the channel. He was watching Family Guy before the news came on. I said "What is wrong?". He said (laughing at himself) I can't watch this anymore without thinking of how much they cuss (beep it out but you know what they are saying) or the stupid stuff that use to be funny to me." We both started laughing cause we never thought that US, WE would change a channel due to foul language with NO KIDS in the room.
So yes, your choices say "I'm with Jesus" or "I'm with the red guy with the pitch fork".
Our small group studied a Max Lucado devotional on the Book of James and we all loved the way he stated something along the lines of "You either score a point for Jesus or for Satan when you make a decision. Who are you playing for?".
I screw up a lot, but when I actively applied this question to my actions, it got a little easier to make decisions. But I still need God's grace daily- I just think my eyes were opened a little wider in this case.
So, Who do you want to play for? I know how it ends (it's in the last book of the Bible if you want to read up on it) and prefer to play for the winning team.
God Bless You!
1 comment:
you go girl!
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