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Jan

2024

Guarding Against Deception

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Serpent in the Garden

The serpent slithered and whispered, slyly questioning God’s command. Eve tuned her ear, debated his lies, and took forbidden fruit. With one bite, paradise perished as deception dragged humanity down.

Satan’s cunning scheme made trusting God seem unreasonable and restrictive. The serpent cast doubt on God’s goodness through clever half-truths. Led astray from childlike faith, Eve discovered the devastation of disobedience.

Centuries later, Paul warned against satanic deception hijacking devotion. The same hissing voice in Eden now stalks Christ’s Bride, seeking to seduce and lead astray.

Devious lies still parade as enlightenment. Without vigilance, even sincere hearts drift.

Stay Alert!

Paul urged caution because he knew how alluring deception can be. Its subtle slide seems harmless until we are deep in darkness.

Staying devoted to Christ requires purposeful alertness. We must test every thought and teaching against Scripture’s truth. The Spirit is given so we can discern between God’s voice and the serpent’s hiss.

Eve’s mistake reminds us that no one is above deception’s reach; be wary of thoughts breeding mistrust in God’s goodness. Lies may be packaged as revelations, but they lead only to brokenness.

Cling to the Shepherd

The surest protection against straying is clinging closely to the Good Shepherd. As we abide in Christ’s presence, our ears tune to His voice.

We learn the sound of truth. Only Jesus can be trusted fully and followed completely. When we lose sight of Him, we become vulnerable prey.

Stay near the Shepherd, beloved sheep. In His care, deception loses its power. Even the serpent cowers before the watchful eyes of the One who holds us fast.

Discern and Reject

By God’s grace, we can reject deception and enjoy undivided devotion to Christ. Immersing ourselves in Scripture builds spiritual discernment. Meeting regularly with other believers reinforces our defense.

And when twisted thoughts creep in, we capture them and make them obedient to Christ. We reject ideas that diminish His glory and grace.

Standing firm with watchful hearts, we avoid Eve’s error and embrace the unrivaled truth of our Savior.

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Nov

2023

Step Out in Faith

Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

The Calling of Faith

God called Abraham to leave his familiar home and go to an unknown destination.

Despite blurry vision, Abraham obeyed God’s summons and embarked on a journey of faith.

No Road Map Required

The cliche “walk by faith, not sight” defined Abraham’s life.

He followed God without a road map or clear guarantees, just trust in the Commander’s goodness.

Great Gains Require Risk

Stepping out in faith often involves uncertainty and risk. But taking God’s hand into the unknown opens the door to growing intimacy with Him and receiving amazing inheritance.

Where is God Calling You?

Faith may be prompting you to take a new step.

Though the way seems hazy now, listen to God’s voice and take courage. Walk by faith – the view ahead will grow clearer!

Oct

2023

Without Delay

In Mark 1:20, we find a brief but powerful glimpse into the lives of two brothers, Simon and Andrew, who were fishermen by trade. This verse reveals a crucial moment when Jesus called them to follow Him.

“Without delay, He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.”

Immediate Obedience

One of the remarkable aspects of this verse is the immediacy of Simon and Andrew’s response to Jesus’ call.

They didn’t hesitate or ask for more time; instead, they left everything behind to follow Him.

Their willingness to respond without delay serves as a powerful example of what it means to wholeheartedly answer God’s call.

Left Behind

Simon and Andrew’s decision to leave their fishing nets and even their father to follow Jesus was not an easy one. It required them to leave behind the familiar and embrace the unknown.

This act of leaving behind the past symbolizes the importance of being willing to let go of our comfort zones when we hear God’s call in our own lives.

Call to Follow

Just as Jesus called Simon and Andrew to follow Him, He calls each of us to a unique journey of faith. It may not always involve physically leaving our current circumstances, but it does require a willingness to leave behind our old ways of thinking and living and to embrace the path He sets before us.

Respond to the Call

Mark 1:20 challenges you to reflect on your own response to God’s call.

Are you willing to follow Him without delay, leaving behind what is comfortable and familiar?

Apr

2018

Take His Hand

I have learned that when it comes right down to it, most people when pressed, will admit they believe in God. I think that is a good thing, but simply believing is not enough, there needs to be a bit more.

One needs to believe enough to follow; in fact, that was the very challenge Jesus gave to those He encountered along the way; He said, “Come, follow Me . . .” and many did!

Do you believe enough to follow? Following Jesus may require leaving some things behind, and that may be just what you need! His invitation still stands . . . “Come, Follow Me . . .”

Put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee!