07/12/07

Where's Your Focus?

Matthew 27:4 "Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that."


These Jews, who had courted Judas' favor to obtain his cooperation in arresting Jesus, cared nothing for Judas. They had simply used him. The devil's crowd may flatter as long as they can use you, but you can be assured that when there is no longer anything in it for them, they will forsake you just as the priests did to Judas.

The serpent didn't come to Eve in the garden threatening her if she didn't eat of the forbidden fruit. Instead, he came with deception, presenting himself as being concerned for her welfare. Satan's greatest weapon is deceit.

Just as a football player, a boxer, or military man's success depends partly on how well he knows his opponent(s), so believers must not be ignorant of Satan's devices. Jesus stripped Satan of all his authority (Mt. 28:18). The power that Satan uses against us now, is deception. Those who ascribe other powers to him have already fallen prey to one of his lies. The devil deceives us and uses our own power and authority against us and through us to others. The thing that makes deception so deadly is that those who are deceived don't know it. Once they realize they are deceived, they aren't deceived any more.

The best defense against the devil is to be so God-centered that you give no place to Satan. People who are very sensitive to the devil's presence usually are so at the expense of being sensitive to the Lord's presence. For God's children, anytime Satan's oppression is present, God's presence is there too (Heb. 13:5). It's just a matter of where our focus is. Focusing on the devil or his works is a trick of the devil. Choose to focus on God.


[ Prayer for the Day ]

Father God, You are Almighty and about all, You have called us your children and through Jesus Christ You have given us authority over Satan and all evil powers. Help us abide in Jesus and not be deceived by Satan. Help us to focus on You and Your Kingdom. This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Mt. 28:18-20 [AV]
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Heb. 13:5 [AV]
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.


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