"The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:.." John
10:10a
When the devil comes against
you, although he wants to make you unproductive for Christ and keep you focused
on yourself because of what you are going through, he is after only one thing.
When he attacks your body, he isn't after your health. When he attacks your
finances, he isn't after your money. When he attacks your relationships, he
isn't just wanting to separate you from others. When he attacks you in your
emotions, he isn't only after your mind. He has a bigger goal and plan. There
is a "bulls-eye" that he is aiming to hit. That bulls-eye, that goal, is to
cause you to turn away from Christ.
He is out to steal your
eternal life. He is out to kill your faith and confidence in the Lord. He is
out to destroy your relationship with the Father. He hates God and he hates you
because God loves you. The greatest thing we possess is not our health, it is
not our wealth, it is not our relationships with one another. It is our
relationship with God the Father. Jesus came to save us from our sins and to
reconcile our relationship with the Lord. God loves us so much that He was
willing to sacrifice His One and Only Son in order for us to have this
relationship with Him.
The devil only uses the
trials, tests and temptations that cause pain and suffering, heartache and
discouragement as tools to pull us away from our relationship with the Lord. He
hopes that through the things he throws at us we will accuse God, get bitter
towards Him, be angry with Him, and lose hope in Him because of what we are
suffering. And because God "allowed" it and did not stop it or come to our
rescue.
Why should we get angry and
bitter toward God? Why should we give up on Him? Why should we turn our backs
on our relationship with Him? He loved us enough to warn us that trials would
come, that in this world we would have tribulation and many would be our
afflictions. He told us "up front" so that when these things happened to us we
would not be taken unaware. He never once promised us a life filled with no
problems, no trials, no heartache, no pain or no suffering. So He hasn't
deceived us.
Are you at the point of
"throwing in the towel" on your relationship with the Lord? Are you embittered
against Him and ready to give up? Are you at the place where you are about to
throw your relationship with the Lord away? Then the devil has "hit the
bulls-eye" in your life. He has accomplished what he set out to do. Let me
encourage you this morning.... DON'T DO IT! Don't throw away the eternal for
the temporary. Don't forget about the outcome for those who endure to the end.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) Life
is short-- it is like a vapor that is here today and gone tomorrow. But
eternity never ends. One day you will leave this life of pain, suffering and
heartache behind. If you don't give up and turn from your relationship with the
Lord, you will enter into the place of rest and joy where you will behold that
lovely face that saved you forever. Like the old song says-- "It will be worth
it all, when we see Jesus. Life's trials will seem so small when we see
Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run
the race, 'till we see Christ."
Have a great day. The devil
is after one thing-- your relationship with the Lord. Don't let him have it.
If you endure to the end, you will receive a great and eternal recompense and
reward.
For further
reading:
Hebrews
10:35
John 3:16;
6:33
Psalm
34:19
Matthew
10:22
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine
Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking
from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email:mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
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