CREDIT: Alec Perkins
Dear Saints and Sinners,
I was doing my taxes the other day. I was frustrated because I couldn’t remember where I put some key information. I knew I had it, but where?! Ugh! Fortunately, I my computer seems to remember anything. So, after driving myself half nuts, I had the computer look for it. Ten seconds later – ding! – there it was. Ahhh – okay, maybe not, I still had to do my taxes, but at least I had my information.
I’m sure we all get frustrated by things going on around us. We get exasperated when we see things happening we don’t like. It’s in these times, we can get taken advantage of because we start to lose our cool. Satan loves it when this happens because that’s when we’re at our weakest … that’s when we turn our attention from God and His word … and go our own way. In these times, it’s good to remember … who is with us always and what He says to us.
Jesus shows us how to face down the devil though. During His forty-day fast in the desert (Luke 4:1-13), Satan tried taking advantage of Jesus’s extreme hunger, “Turn these rocks into bread.” Jesus remembered God’s word, “Man doesn’t live on bread alone.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) Then, remembering that Jesus would one day suffer and die to defeat him, the devil gave Jesus a way out, “See all these kingdoms – they’re yours! Just worship me.” Jesus remembered God’s word again, “You shall not serve false gods.” (Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:12,20) Finally the devil saw what Jesus was doing. So he remembered God’s word saying, “Throw yourself off this tower. God will protect you.” (Psalm 91:11-12) But Jesus remembered that God also says, “Don’t put the Lord God to the test.” (Deuteronomy 6:16) The devil fled Jesus.
So, when you’re frustrated, exasperated, losing your cool. Remember! Count to 10. Follow Jesus’ example. Go to God in prayer. Go to His word for guidance. In the name of Jesus and by His word, the devil will flee (James 4:7-8).
Your Fellow Saint and Sinner,
Pastor Jim