"Threats"

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,"  Acts 4:29

Life is full of choices.  Some of what happens to us is not because we chose it, it is part of living in a fallen world.  But on the other hand there are things that happen in our lives that are the result of the choices we have made.  If we make bad choices or wrong choices we face the consequences of those choices. 

As Christians, making the right choices, godly choices, choices that please God should be our desire.  But when you are faced with a choice to either do what is right or what is wrong, the enemy will come to try to get you to make the wrong one.  One of the ways he does this is through threats.  He will threaten you.  He is the ultimate "bully" making threats to cause you to make choices that go against God. 

He has always done this.  Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  The king had a statue made of himself and commanded all the people to bow down and worship it when they heard the music play.  These three did not.  They made the choice not to worship this idol but to worship God only.  The king threatened them with being thrown into a fiery furnace if they did not comply.  This happened with Daniel also.  Don't pray to anyone but the king or be thrown into the lion's den.  Peter and John were threatened not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 

It is still happening today.  We are being threatened by the devil and by the world in our choice to do what is pleasing to God.  Pastors are being threatened with prison if they don't turn over their sermon notes and preach what the government wants them to preach.  Ministers are being threatened with fines and prison if they don't marry homosexual couples.  Christian employers are being threatened with the same if they don't provide for abortions for their employees.  Each time we are faced with a choice to either do the right thing in the sight of God, or the wrong thing that the world wants us to do, we are faced with threats.  On a more personal level those threats come in the form of-- if you don't lie for the boss you will lose your job; if you don't drink with the crowd you will lose your friends; if you don't give your body to your boyfriend he won't love you.  These are all threats to cause you to make bad choices that will ruin the rest of your life.

How do we resist the temptation to give in to the threats and make the wrong choice?  We purpose in our hearts each and every day that regardless of what choice we have to make that day, we will make the choice that pleases God.  We have to have His word hid in our hearts so that we will know the difference between right and wrong choices.  We ask the Lord everyday to give us strength, guidance, boldness and empower us by His Spirit to make the right choices.  When we do, we will be able to stand against the threats and do the right thing. 

Have a great day.  When faced with a choice, make the right one by not listening to the enemy's threats. 

For further reading:
Acts 4:17-21
Daniel 3:1-6

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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