DEVOTION - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011

“THE DEVIL’S DISITRACTIONS”

BY

PASTOR BOB COY

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

Scripture speaks definitively about the devil. It tells us that he is real, that he is the embodiment of evil, and that he has his sights set on God’s people. He’s compared to a lion that stealthily and strategically stalks Christians. There’s an agenda, a scheme, a game plan devised against them.

What do you think that involves? It involves a lot of things. Oftentimes, it involves an obvious assault. But Satan’s game plan also involves something subtler.

As we’ve witnessed throughout this month, there’s a powerful effect that eternity has on our faith. It puts things in proper perspective and gets us to concentrate on the things that really matter most. The devil understands this too, and one of his most effective weapons against Christians is to get their focus off eternity and onto earthly things.

When we’re preoccupied with the affairs of this world, Satan gets the upper hand against us. No wonder he and his minions work overtime in pushing that button in us. We don’t have to look any further than our own lives to see this exemplified. Think back to the times when you’ve lost sight of eternity and couldn’t take your mind off of an earth-bound issue. Those also tend to be the times when we make poor decisions and falter spiritually.

In hindsight, we can see how being distracted from eternity plays right into Satan’s hands. And yet, it’s not so easy to recognize at the time. How do we protect ourselves? By being sober and vigilant…by being on guard and alert. Particularly when it comes to eternity.

Distracting us from the eternal is a mighty weapon in the Devil’s arsenal. But it cuts both ways….a focus on the eternal is a mighty weapon in our hand against him.

Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?