12-18-2023

Good Morning All,

     Genesis 3:1; “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

    “Boys and girls take warning, "If you go near the lake; keep your eyes wide open and look for sneaky snake" that is the first line from a country song by Tom T. Hall titled “Sneaky Snake.”  The good thing about this snake is that it only steals your root beer.  It may not be what you want to have happen, but you could live with it.  This sneaky snake isn’t quite as bad as the real sneaky snake.  The real one steals your hope, your peace and, eventually, your soul.   The devil wants all that and more just because he does.  His only desire is pain and suffering because he likes to watch it.

    The devil uses many tactics to distract us.  He uses the same question on us that he used on Eve; “Did God actually say?”  His goal quite simply is to make you doubt, just a little, because that doubt is like a little water in a tiny crack in a wall.  If that water freezes, the crack gets bigger and soon more water, more freezing and soon the crack is gaping and the wall will soon begin to fall down.  It never takes much water to start with; it just slowly occurs sometimes it is almost imperceptible at first.  Soon the crack is huge and doubt drives us to despair. 

    The devil also likes to keep you looking around, trying to distract you.  It is a lot like driving your car, if you don’t pay attention, you can soon find yourself in a wreck.  The devil tries to get you to look away from God and his grace and to doubt that it even exists.  This is the devil’s favorite ploy, plant a little doubt and watch what happens.

    This is why it is so important for us to really take the time to focus on God and his grace. We need to spend time in his Word and to spend time in prayer.  The devil will always whisper in your ear, “Did God really say...?”  He will then go on to cause you to doubt your value, your self-worth, the love of those around you, the love that God has for you, really anything he can find to make a small crack in your wall of faith.  He wants anything to cause you to separate from God and to lose sight of God’s grace and goodness.  He will attack; we always need to be prepared.

    We are best prepared when we stay close to God.  Martin Luther told us to always cling to the cross that way we would always have hope.  Trust in God’s mercy for you.  In the face of everything that the devil will throw at you, God never stops loving you.  In the end we cling to God’s promise of mercy and salvation.  So, when the devil asks, “Did God really say?”  You can answer confidently, “Yes, God really said that I am his beloved child.”  Trust in God for his mercy.

Gracious Father, I often experience doubts and at times feel weak.  Give me your Spirit of strength that I may stand up to the devil’s attacks.  Be with those who are especially struggling with all the devil throws at them.  As they waver, give them the certainty of your grace and goodness.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret