By David ReayThursday 30 May 2013LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read John 10:7-10
“I tell you the truth,I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes,I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)
Many of us find ourselves shaped by fear or by anxiety or by despondency. Not perhaps all of the time but at least some of the time. The Scriptures are full of instructions about this. We are not to be fearful (the most common command in the Bible),we are not to be anxious,we are not to be downcast. This truth alone is enough to make us realise we are in a wrong life pattern and something needs to be done.
But there is another reason why it is good to overcome such thought patterns. It is that whenever we are fearful,anxious,or despondent we are doing what the evil one desires. He is the one Jesus describes as wanting to steal and kill and destroy. He wants us to live dominated by such life-draining emotions. When we are fearful or anxious or despondent he is delighted. He is winning,he is achieving what he set out to achieve.
So when confronted with such feelings we do well to not give the evil one such satisfaction. Which one of us actively plans to give the devil delight? Do we not rather want to give God delight? He is delighted when we recall that his love for us casts out fear,that his care for us defeats anxiety,that his plans for us overcome despondency.
Next time we are fearful or anxious or despondent,remember that we are giving Satan pleasure. Which is about the last thing we want to do!
Blessings
David Reay