"You know...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." Acts 10:38
I have been pondering this passage and going through scripture trying to get a better understanding of "under the power of the devil" then as I was going through my files I came upon this message that was being sent around a few years ago. In a style very reminiscent of "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, it gives a very thought provoking scenario of...
B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke
Satan called a worldwide conventions of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."
"This is what I want you to do" said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!" "How shall we do this?" shouted his demons. The Devil replied "Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds.
Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade them to work long hours so they can afford their empty lifestyle. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!
Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Surround them with non-biblical music wherever they go. Entice them to play the radio or CD whenever they drive. To keep the TV and PCs going constantly in their home. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mail boxes and inboxes with junk and every concealable enticement offering services and false hopes.
Keep shinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so husbands will believe outward beauty is what's important and become dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! That will fragment their families quickly.
Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children about the real meaning of Christmas. Give them the Easter bunny so they won't talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death.
Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!
Crowd their live with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan. The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their God and their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Are you too busy for Jesus?
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