Today's Reading:
- Luke 10:13 - 37
- Psalm 75:1 - 10
Luke 10:13 - 37
Today's reading in Luke was a short one that touched a few topics, such as loving your neighbor and the judgement of cities who reject or accept Jesus. The portion I want to focus on is pretty brief and regards demons and Satan.
The 72 disciples returned to Jesus, pleased that they the demons obey the name of Jesus. Verses 18 - 20 tell his reply:
"Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."The most interesting thing to me in this verse was the mention of Satan falling from the sky light lightning. I realized, after I had read this, that I had yet to read anything about the fall of Satan from Heaven.
Satan is also referred to as "the enemy". I am guilty of not taking Satan as seriously as I should have for the majority of my life so far. It wasn't until the past couple years that I started to change my thinking. Previously, being a Christian meant to me that I loved the Lord, that I accepted Jesus as my savior, and that I tried to live a life that was pleasing to the Lord. Now I am realizing that it is not enough to just know God, I also must know my enemy.
There is something else I have noticed, too. When you announce to others that you believe in God or praise the Lord for something that has gone well in your life, other people don't seem to much or think anything of it. Very few would think you were actually crazy just because you believe in God. But if you make mention of Satan coming up against you, that's a different story. It's like there is a disconnect -- its okay to believe in God, but it's not as okay to attribute things that have happened as to being the work of Satan. In fact, a lot of times when tragedy happens, people will say that it must just be the Lord's will. Just because Satan has done something to attempt to destroy your life, and has succeeded, does not make it the Lord's will (but the Lord will bring something good out of it if you have faith, regardless). I think Satan has succeeded here in driving this disparity between having faith and believing in an evil force that is destructive.
Psalm 75:1 - 10
This is a short Psalm with a simple message: The Lord will judge the wicked. The Lord will judge the wicked when He wants to, not when we want Him to. And it is no one's job but the Lord's to judge. There is a song I really love called "Jesus Friend of Sinners" by the Casting Crowns. Here is verse two of that song:
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sandI just think this song truly encompasses the truth behind what happens when we are the ones to judge others instead of the Lord. We don't help people who are lost by judging them. Many people view Christians as judgmental and hypocritical, and it turns people away from wanting to find out what the Lord is all about -- love and forgiveness.
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did
