“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
They wandered into the blue blob. Most of us, if not all of us, have experienced those pesky little black ants that find their way into our homes. I suppose they are looking for food but sometimes I think they are just trying to be annoying. Let me explain. I was visiting my sister who lives in Georgia and I noticed she had a little blue thing on the window seal. What was a little more odd is that this little blue thing on the window seaI was in the bathroom. I also noticed that this little blue thing was really popular with those pesky little black ants. They would go into the thingy, visit a while and leave. Well I assumed that the little blue thingy was ant poison but much to my surprise no one was dying. What!?!
Well, I finally asked my sister what was going on–after all, I hated for her to waste her money feeding ants. She explained that what was in the little blue thing was in fact poison but this one worked differently. You see, the ants would taste the poison, like it and then take it back to their hometown. Then, all the ants would have a taste and then they would all get sick and croak–you know kick the bucket. How ingenious! If they had died immediately when they ate the poison only a few would have died but this way the whole bunch died. It kinda reminds me of the garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. Satan tricked them, they sinned and their sin was passed on to all of mankind.
Satan was pretty smart then and guess what? He is pretty smart now. He loves to lure people into the poison business not just so they will be affected but that others will too. Let me give you two big pieces of advice. First, if you are a Jesus follower, stay alert for the poison of this world. Satan and those that follow him will do everything they can to spread their poison. They love to make a lie sound like the truth (remember the garden?) They also will make their values sound like just the right thing for you. Be aware.
One more thing. Don’t take the bait but also don’t become the bait. I think to often Jesus people bring the world’s poison with them to church. And, if we are not careful, the church begins to smell and act just like the world. Their values become the church’s values. Their way of business becomes the church’s way of business too. Someone said the problem just might be that there is too much of the world in the church. Remember we are too infect with world with the gospel rather than being infected with the world.
The world needs Jesus but the if they are going to hear and believe the message then we are going to have to stay clear of the poison and stay clean from it’s actions and attitudes. Sometimes the poison of Satan and sin can seem pretty tasty–but it is all a ruse. God gave us His Word to give us the wisdom to avoid the ways and poison of Satan. If you need help avoiding the bait–just ask your Dearest Daddy and He will direct you and help you. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
