“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” (v1-4)
This chapter contains a list of people who may mislead us into turning away from the One True God of Israel, the Lord God Almighty. One example listed above is false prophets, though family members, spouses, friends, and even others from neighboring cities are included in the list of those who could mislead us. In every instance the command is clear – do not allow anyone to turn us away from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Now we are not going to stone these misleading people as Israel was commanded to do, since there is a New Covenant – we are to love these neighbors with the love and mercy of Christ (thank the Lord for the New Covenant). Essentially, with the power of the Holy Spirit within we are going to kill these people with kindness and love instead of stones, in the hope that they will die to their old ways and be born again with Jesus.
The challenge for today is ensuring that we are fully submitted to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so we may remain strong in the face of extreme temptation. It is not an easy task to withstand the lures and traps of this world. Jesus was tempted in every way and yet remained sinless, so He is our best example to follow.
In Greek mythology there were these beings called sirens – they sang so incredibly beautifully that they would lure sailors to their deaths. The only way sailors could pass by and live was to plug their ears and/or tie themselves to the ship so they wouldn’t jump overboard and follow the powerfully misleading song.
We need to do something similar with the wiles of Satan – don’t listen to the lies, and resist believing / following the lies we hear. The only way we can resist the devil is through the grace, strength and discernment of God – we are a weak and broken people and we cannot save ourselves, for the enemy is far too cunning. Only God can outsmart and overpower Satan – to think we can do that on our own is just another lie that leads to pride and independence from God.
Once the Holy Spirit within us is firmly rooted and resisting the lure of Satan’s “song”, then we can walk beside those who are struggling and allow the Holy Spirit to speak truth and grace into their lives. Only God can retrieve and revive those who have unknowingly given their lives to the lure of the “sirens’ song”.
Father God, the One True Lord of All Creation, we humbly bow before Your throne. We acknowledge our weakness and frailty, confessing that we are prone to distraction and the wiles of the evil one. Father please reign in our hearts, and guard us from the beautiful lies that seek our destruction. Please keep our feet from straying, that we may remain true to You alone. Please also witness to those around us through Your glorious works within us, that they too may be strengthened against the alluring falsehoods of the devil. Jesus please show us Your footsteps, that we may walk in Your ways and hold true to the path of life. In Your holy name we ask this, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training