Thursday February 16th, 2023
Meditate on: 2 Timothy 2:22 CEV
« Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing. Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with. Worship with people whose hearts are pure. »
Read: Proverbs 1:10-19 GNT
10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don’t give in.
11 suppose they say, “Come on; let’s find someone to kill! Let’s attack some innocent people for the fun of it!
12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they’ll be dead when we’re through with them!
13 We’ll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!
14 Come and join us, and we’ll all share what we steal.”
15 My child, don’t go with people like that. Stay away from them.
16 They can’t wait to do something bad. They’re always ready to kill.
17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching,
18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die.
19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.
Understand:
In these last days, the devil is using every phony argument and deceitful practice in his arsenal to entangle the souls of the simple minded.
We must therefore be on our guard and put in earnest efforts to preserve our faith and gain eternity.
The devil has gone to great lengths to rebrand the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life in a most attractive package, embossed with inscriptions of prosperity all over it.
This evil package is now making Christians, even ministers of the gospel, jostle for the kind of lifestyle that is clearly identifiable as worldly, carnal or sensual to those whose spiritual eyes are still open.
This is why we must be equipped with the word of God more than ever before, to correctly draw the line between the things of God and worldly desires.
Youths are the most affected in this regards.
Many of them don’t have a firm resolve to serve God.
They have many teachers from electronic and print media, some of whom are apostates, loading them with unsound doctrines that are not based on the totality of God’s word.
Many young people are unwilling to surrender every aspect of their lives to God, preferring to do things their own way.
The way many of them live shows that they are not subject to the Spirit of the Lord, who should have control over their lives.
Such carnal hearts need to see the beauty in living a holy life and loving God genuinely.
One trick the devil is using to enslave youths today is the subtle offer of delicious gifts, appointments and promises of greatness by association rather than through hard work.
In many cases, no matter how hard you try, you may not see anything wrong in such an arrangement at first.
You might even think it is the result of God’s favor.
Under this demonic scheme, a rich and powerful benefactor, acting under the control of demonic forces, tries to use the luxuries he or she can provide to entrap a less wealthy and vulnerable person, so as to make them feel obliged to do their bidding. However, when payback time come, many bewildered victims have been left disappointed, enslaved and hopeless, and some have even lost their lives.
I warn Christian youths that those who are addicted to pleasure, having roving eyes that are always seeking enjoyment and a luxurious lifestyle, are easily sucked in and entrapped by wicked predators.
The language they speak follows the pattern of their father’s in Luke 4:6-7.
I pray that you will not become a victim of mean deceivers in the mighty Name of Jesus. See to it that you do not fall for any deceptive proposal of the devil.
Satan does not give favors away for free. His demands are usually much greater than the initial investment, and you may lose your soul in the process.
Do not be carried away by appealing offers not founded on God’s principles, because they are deceitful and poisonous food (Proverbs 23:3).
Beware of hugs from bears!
Prayer point: Father, please deliver our youths from the perilous times of these last days in Jesus’ Name.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it ♥
