The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Watch"
The first mention of "that old serpent, called the devil and Satan" occurs in Genesis 3, where Scripture reveals what we perhaps most need to know about him (Revelation 12:9).
"The serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which God had made" (Genesis 3:1).
Our enemy confirmed the description by deceiving Eve with appearances that would have seemed to indicate partaking of the forbidden "tree of knowledge of good and evil" was actually beneficial rather than destructive (Genesis 2:9).
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Genesis 3:6).
Little wonder the Lord Jesus Christ would one day warn, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). At the outset of human history, we see the need to keep our guard up regarding the fact that a crafty deceiver exists who ever seeks to lead us away from life unto death. As I once heard a young man say many years ago in a Bible study, "Satan makes good things seem bad, and bad things seem good." It could also be said that the devil makes living things seem deadly, and deadly things seem to promise life. Our enemy is indeed "subtle" in conveying such deception, and we all must "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). Or, as the Apostle John commanded,
"Try (test) the spirits, whether they be of God" (I John 4:1).
God has given us gifts whereby we can evaluate incoming information and data in the light of truth and reality. The Word of God, the Spirit of God, the church of God, and the many promises of His guidance and keeping protect us as we seek to "walk in truth" (III John 1:4). Recognizing that He provides such grace because we so desperately require it reminds us that an enemy exists who ever seeks to lead us astray. Like Eve, the devil will tempt us most often not by frontal and obvious assaults, but rather by subtle misleadings whereby we can be caught unawares if we fail to be aware. "Let us therefore not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober" (I Thessalonians 5:6).
Again, good things made to seem bad. Bad things made to seem good. Living things made to seem deadly. Deadly things made to seem living. May our Heavenly Father lead us in keeping our eyes open to Himself and His truth, whereby we see darkness as darkness because we see it in its stark contrast to the Light.
"With Him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding… and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
(Job 13:13; 22)
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith."
(I Corinthians 16:13).
Weekly Memory Verse
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
(I Peter 5:8)
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