07 SEP 2024 devotional

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16

More and more in these last days I have been seeing (and, sadly, personally experiencing) the gullibility of Christians. We are being cheated, exploited, used, and trampled upon by the very world over which we are to have dominion. Satan’s tricks are the same ones he has used from the beginning, yet we who have access to thousands of years worth of knowledge and wisdom in scripture and who are supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit of God fall prey to Satan’s schemes.

The unsaved around us speak all the time about common sense or street smarts. They have learned to “trust their gut” in business deals, financial transactions, and other interactions with people. We have all heard of the “female intuition” and have seen it played out hundreds, maybe thousands, of times in our own lives. There is within every natural human a survival instinct – a sort of sixth sense – that protects them from danger. This has been trained and honed over the millenia to include more than just an animal instinct – it has been developed to pick up subtle cues that animals can’t detect.

I must lay the blame for Christians falling victim to these at the feet of the Church. We have been taught some pretty shady theology over the years. We have been taught that we are to turn the other cheek. We have been trained to trust everyone. We have had it shoved down our throats that if we believe and teach what the Bible actually says we are bigots, racist, narcissistic, self-serving, evil, closed-minded, and a host of other descriptives. Pastors have taught us to roll over and play dead against the deceptive maneuvers of the enemy – to let him have his way because, after all, this world is not our home. We have been taught escapism – to ride it out until we get to heaven. The older I get the more I realize what a load of bunk this has been. We have been told it is godly to be poor and we shouldn’t get involved in politics and business because these are evil institutions and could lead us to get entangled to the point of losing our salvation. While this may be true for some, it is not a one-size-fits-all declaration.

I have known (and currently have) several friends in politics, business, and community leadership who are very successful at leading from a Christian perspective. Many of them are quite wealthy (dare I say millionaires?) and yet they are able to walk a godly, sincere, and healthy life before God and men. As a matter of fact, if we look back in scripture we read of many who were godly men and women that walked before God in their integrity, were humble (even in their powerful positions), and gained prominence in the eyes of God. Moses was raised to become the next Pharaoh, Abraham laid the groundwork for the nation of Israel, Daniel was trained in the ways of the Babylonians and learned their wisdom, Elijah had direct access to the court of the kings – I could go on and on, but you get the point. My friends are a blessing to our individual communities (even out in California and across the globe), to me personally, and to God.

What I’m saying is, open your Bibles and read for yourself. See what God is saying to you. Don’t rely only on what your pastor preaches or what you see and hear on television, radio, and social media. There are great men and women of God out there who are legitimately good and godly examples and teach the Word rightly. BUT there are MORE out there who are only teaching half-truths or non-truths altogether. We are told to study the scriptures that we might rightly divide the Word of truth for ourselves. I praise God for my pastor – Pastor Shane Tomko – and the countless hours, weeks, months, and years he has dedicated to the study of scripture that he might lead his congregation rightly. I say that because I have witnessed (and yes, sat under) many, many pastors who teach a denominational line of theology only, but are afraid to delve into the deeper knowledge of the Word of God lest they offend someone. Praise God for men and women who will stand up and preach the Word unafraid and unfiltered. They are the true heroes of Christianity and the true shepherds of the flock. But YOU are responsible, ultimately, for your own soul. Develop it, preen it, and protect it.

My challenge for you, my friends, is to learn to listen to that still, small voice in all of your dealings with others. You no doubt have heard people speak of having a “check” in their spirit? Well, that is a real thing. It may not appeal to your intelligence, it may not make sense at all, and you may even feel like you will lose everything or miss the opportunity of a lifetime if you don’t act on this offer before you right away. BUT, I can tell you from experience that you may lost everything if you DO respond or react right away, disregarding that warning God is giving you in your heart. Learn to know the voice of God, become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and for goodness sake – STUDY THE BIBLE for yourself! It is full of nuggets of wisdom and examples for you and me to follow. Now go out there, chosen one of God, and take dominion of your world.

Be blessed.