September 28th
Read: Matt. 6:19-24; Romans 6:11-23; Romans 7:15-25
The lake was a mirror reflecting the red-gold hills on that still autumn morning. The sun spilled molten copper, which ran down over the fields and slipped into the water. Everything was still.
Suddenly there was the shriek of a jay just outside my window. Looking quickly, I saw him in full combat with a squirrel on the picnic table! He was a blue flurry of wings as he struggled and pecked and shrieked. The squirrel was quick but not fast enough to snatch the peanut lying there. He was outclassed as a fighter and for speed. He gave it a good try, but soon he tired and scurried up a nearby tree to watch from the branches while the jay settled down to enjoy his snack
I had not seen which one was first at the peanut, so I was an impartial observer of the skirmish. Both had wanted the whole thing. One had stolen from the other or was trying to do so. It was settled by battle tactics.
I began to think of the battle between good and evil in the spiritual realm. God wants to have us wholeheartedly while Satan, that old dragon, wants to pull us away from Him. Any tactic will be tried by the enemy of our souls, while God consistently uses His Word in our lives and His loving presence. Both of them desire to have all of us, but in our lives it seems that we rarely give all of ourselves to our Heavenly Father. We usually reserve one or two little spots for ourselves, which become the very places which give Satan a toehold and cause so many skirmishes in our lives. We need to yield everything to the Lord God so that our lives may glorify Him.
NOT ENOUGH
Part of my life is not good enough, Lord,
To offer when I come to Thee.
I must keep yielding self, as a river is poured
From a mountain spring into the sea.
Part of the way is not far enough, Lord,
On the pathway I travel with Thee.
Your byways of service must all be explored,
Even those paved with humility.
Part of my love is not dear enough, Lord,
To spend on Your wide family.
I must give all I have, all my heart doth afford,
Even as You did on Mount Calvary.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be wholehearted for You, not allowing me to give the enemy place for a foothold in my life.
