It happened 50 years ago…and I’ve never really been the same since. I had traveled back to Los Angeles and with some friends I went to a Sunset Strip movie theater, and I watched the movie… “JAWS”. It was half a century ago when I realized that I would never think of sharks the same way again. Nor would I ever get out into the surf with my body board without taking a look at the water and the swells…just to make sure I can see
no evidence of any kind of threat…and specifically a shark. Each summer we go to a place where we love to catch the waves, and we make sure that we stay alert and watch. I sometimes think I overreact and then I remember that in places where I have snorkeled in the ocean or taken my board on the waves…someone has had an incident with a shark. The shark isn’t evil…it is just an eating machine and sometimes we humans just get in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there is another one that I need to be even more careful of and that one is neither human nor animal. The Bible declares him to be the enemy of God and is called by him the Devil or Satan. He is different than the shark who just happens to cross paths with humans. This one is a human hunter. The devil is described as the enemy of God whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy…people. His one aim is to destroy any real love connection between the humans on earth and the God of the Bible who created us. The problem is that he doesn’t come to us as a killing machine, but as one who is even attractive…but he is the hater of God and of all those who love him. We are warned to stay alert in our relationship with this Jesus of the Bible and to watch out because he is our great enemy. He is looking for someone to devour. And he is hunting those who he can convince that God doesn’t exist or if he does, he doesn’t want you to live a fulfilling life. As a follower of this Jesus, we are reminded that he who is within you is greater than he who is in the world. So don’t give in to the temptation and enticement that he attacks with. Your enemy is out there, often hidden in the waves and swells of life and remember his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. God’s purpose is to give you and me a rich and satisfying life and life eternal. I’m going to remember that he’s out there and I’ll watch for him and any evidence of him for me and all those I love. Just like I’ll always take the time to make one more scan over the waves just before I ride my board back to shore. Stay alert...because you have an enemy that is worse than any great white shark…because he is purposely looking for anyone he can keep from the love and kindness of that relationship with the God of the Bible. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
no evidence of any kind of threat…and specifically a shark. Each summer we go to a place where we love to catch the waves, and we make sure that we stay alert and watch. I sometimes think I overreact and then I remember that in places where I have snorkeled in the ocean or taken my board on the waves…someone has had an incident with a shark. The shark isn’t evil…it is just an eating machine and sometimes we humans just get in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there is another one that I need to be even more careful of and that one is neither human nor animal. The Bible declares him to be the enemy of God and is called by him the Devil or Satan. He is different than the shark who just happens to cross paths with humans. This one is a human hunter. The devil is described as the enemy of God whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy…people. His one aim is to destroy any real love connection between the humans on earth and the God of the Bible who created us. The problem is that he doesn’t come to us as a killing machine, but as one who is even attractive…but he is the hater of God and of all those who love him. We are warned to stay alert in our relationship with this Jesus of the Bible and to watch out because he is our great enemy. He is looking for someone to devour. And he is hunting those who he can convince that God doesn’t exist or if he does, he doesn’t want you to live a fulfilling life. As a follower of this Jesus, we are reminded that he who is within you is greater than he who is in the world. So don’t give in to the temptation and enticement that he attacks with. Your enemy is out there, often hidden in the waves and swells of life and remember his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. God’s purpose is to give you and me a rich and satisfying life and life eternal. I’m going to remember that he’s out there and I’ll watch for him and any evidence of him for me and all those I love. Just like I’ll always take the time to make one more scan over the waves just before I ride my board back to shore. Stay alert...because you have an enemy that is worse than any great white shark…because he is purposely looking for anyone he can keep from the love and kindness of that relationship with the God of the Bible. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ