And the world can’t take it away!
June 16, 2011 (Thursday)
After reading yesterday’s blog about thieves and what they steal, a member of my family called my attention to a Bible verse, in which Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV). He shared his thankfulness that the life given to us by Jesus cannot be taken from us. Amen. What a wonderful thought.
That reminds me of a peppy gospel song: “The world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away!”
Satan would like to steal our joy and peace, and all the spiritual values in our lives that God has placed there. Satan, however, cannot do that unless we allow it. Remember Job? God gave Satan permission to take Job’s possessions; he allowed him to take Job’s health; he even let him take away Job’s family. It seems he took everything, but he didn’t. He could not take away Job’s faith, for he declared to his friends, “When He (God) has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” All the spiritual values that had characterized him before his seemingly unbearable troubles were still intact after his trials.
Satan can do spiritual harm to us only by our own permission. Recall that awesome verse in the New Testament book of James: “Submit yourselves to God; resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NIV). He cannot take your salvation, and he cannot steal your spiritual values unless you let him do so. Hold tight to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you lose everything of a material nature, you can still have in your heart that which is most important.
..that they may have life..