Don't take satan's bait

Everyone is trying to make sense of all the violence across the country. These things are not new, but they seem to be getting worse. For example in a Christmas Eve Jot in 2008, I recounted the headlines of how a newlywed husband, eager to see what his wife had gotten him for Christmas, peeked inside the wrapping. The wife was so enraged that she stabbed her husband six times with a kitchen knife.  A kitchen knife was also the weapon in New Jersey where a mother slashed her six year old son's throat, then tried to commit suicide. In Detroit, a woman committed suicide after shooting her husband and family dog dead with the same gun. Today we have stories of terrorist events and murders--leading up to and through the holidays.

Fires, family fights, murders, suicides, terrorist events, drunk driving deaths, even natural deaths seem to be more prevalent during the holiday season.  People are stressed.  They are rushing about, busy with the getting of and doing things, that life itself seems to take a backstage. Then there is that one little thing-a child asking that silly question for the tenth time, or the husband coming home a tad bit late, or the wife not getting that little thing done-and "boom" everything blows up and lives are changed forever.  My household growing up was a wonderful place to be. But the only arguments I remember my parents having were during the holidays.  Some stupid thing would go wrong and not even a well-prepared Secretary of State could successfully intervene.

We lived at our farm that had been in the family for over 200 years.  And things were old and sometimes didn't work well.  They didn't work well especially during the holidays when large family and friend gatherings were about to occur.  One year, the well went dry just hours before my mother was to serve a meal to about 25 family members. She ordered a water truck to come fill the well. My dad said that the water would just run out of the well and that she just had to patiently wait for the water level to restore itself.  This led to World War III.  Mom was packing her bags and leaving this old farm house forever.  Well, my Dad's patience with her saved the day, and a little help from a quick running spring gave us the water we needed.  All was well.

But the point is that during holidays that celebrate the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, the spiritual enemy presses in and tries to steal the joy of the season.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  Remember that satan wants to destroy anything that would honor Christ-your holidays, your home, your family, even you.  But Christ is a life giver.  He came that we might have life to its fullest measure.  So when those thoughts creep in that do not reflect the life-giving joy of Christ, cast them down before they become actions.  If you can't seem to do that, call your pastor or a friend or 911.  Don't take satan's bait.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!

Bill Wilson

[DailyJot.com]

NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus--the actual original names and the true nature and character of them. 






NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus--the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.