“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
–1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
My wife likes her game shows, but I have never been a big fan of them, and that’s putting it mildly. After a while, a lot of them seem similar to me.
My main thought concerning all game shows is, “Boring!” It just seems to me that most of these shows deal with some form of chance-related subject, or
maybe they make something like a trip to the supermarket seem interesting. On the positive side, though, I must admit one thing: they are good for a short
catnap.
I actually find some of the names of game shows more intriguing than the shows themselves. One show title in particular really peaked my interest, so I
did some research on it.
The Biggest Loser was a reality show which debuted on the NBC network in 2004. This show was all about people trying to lose the most weight in the quickest
amount of time, and from what I read, this show seemed to be all about ratings and sensationalism.
The program was accused of many things, like using fake scales or weight loss drugs. Allegedly, one contestant even said that she lived for a long time
on asparagus and sugar-free Jello. Not my kind of diet, by any means. Still other contestants said the show’s trainers made them work out 6 to 8 hours
a day. Does that sound like fun to you? I don’t think so either.
These accusations may or may not be true, but I think all of us sometimes treat life like a game show. So let’s make some applications here.
We may take unnecessary chances, or sometimes we even try to make deals with God when we find ourselves in a tight spot. Also, just like on a game show,
each trinket or prize we see in life seems more shiny than the last.
But the real tragedy comes when we listen to Satan’s voice, for he holds out false and sensationalistic claims to us, like carrots in front of a donkey’s
nose. Does that remind you of anything I’ve mentioned above?
You might be saying, “But I don’t know how to determine Satan’s voice.” The answer can be found in scripture. Our opening Bible verse says that Satan Goes
about like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. Therefore, it is not the biggest loser that we need to keep our eyes on, but the eternal loser, the
enemy of our souls.
Now think back with me to how Satan approached Eve in the Garden of Eden. He was beautiful to her eyes, and he questioned God’S integrity.
Putting the two thoughts I have mentioned together, doesn’t the devil come to us in the same way today? Satan prowls in the garden of our everyday lives,
and he usually appears to us in unexpected and seemingly refreshing places where we let our guard down.
You may be at an especially low point when he challenges what God has said in His Word. Many times, we are unaware of the devil’s tactics, however, because
instead of an outright attack, Satan uses half-truths or takes things out of context. That is why it is so important to read your Bible, and/or listen
to Christian music often.
But there is another issue that I would like to deal with here. Instead of seeing Satan as the Bible describes him, many people have turned him into a
funny little red man with horns and a pitchfork. The picture we have painted, however, isn’t taken from the Bible at all, but from Greek mythology. So
let’s listen to Jesus as He paints a third picture which builds on the other two.
Jesus said in the gospels that Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. We saw how he stole in the Garden of Eden, but is he stealing life from you today?
Are you letting the devil whisper words of condemnation and guilt into your heart? If so, remember that the Bible makes it clear that “there is no condemnation
in Christ.”
In a similar way, Satan may use an unfortunate incident in your life to kill the hopes, dreams and aspirations which you felt God put into your heart.
The devil likes nothing better then making a Christian feel that he or she is unworthy of being called or used by God.
The devil delights in our final destruction, which is an ultimate turning from God. In contrast, the Bible says that God loves you with an everlasting
love. It also says that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. According to scripture, we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory, and the
wages of that sin is death and eternal seperation from God.
Satan wants to tell you to put this subject off, or that you are a good person in your own right. You may indeed be loving and kind, but according to God,
none of us are truly good. At times, we all have questionable motives, whereas the Lord’s motives are holy and pure.
On the other hand, most of us who profess to believe the Bible fall into one of two camps. Either we don’t take the devil seriously enough, or we look
for him under every stone. In any case, the evil one steals from our lives, making them ineffective. In addition, he robs us of the joy and peace which
God offers.
So if you feel weak and beaten down by life today, God says His strength is made perfect in our weakness. None of us can live this life on our own, so
ask Jesus to stand between you and Satan, becoming your shield. Then come back to Him with your whole heart, and worship Him. You may not feel like it,
but remember that while emotions can be like a wildly rising and falling elevator, God’s love is like a magnet, ready to enfold you in its power and strength.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart,
please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit
www.hcmachaplains.org
and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address
is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our
Tuesday
night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at
5:30
PM Arizona time. Our conference number is
712-432-6498.
When prompted, press 1 for live chat rooms, and we’ll be waiting in room 31. You can press pound to bypass our friend Sharon’s intro message once you’ve
entered room 31. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call
507-369-6861.