Today's Reading: Luke 9-12
"Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands." Luke 9: 44 NRSV
I don't know if you "believe" in Satan/the devil or active evil in the world or in your life. Perhaps you see Satan as an ongoing tempter or interferer in your spiritual and physical life. You perhaps know there is evil in the world but it is more about people than a demonic force instead. No matter which viewpoint you have, today's reading is very scary.
Jesus is telling his disciples, even while people are amazed at what he can do, that he will fall at the hands of human beings.
Jesus has just cast a demon out of a young boy. But he is telling the disciples that it won't be a demon or unclean spirit that betrays him but human beings.
We cannot blame the devil or even evil for what happened to Jesus. Instead, we must see that it is our fault. Human beings betrayed God's son. Human beings are responsible for Jesus' death. Human beings abandoned him, beat him and nailed him to a cross.
When have you betrayed Jesus lately? Did you blame evil or the devil afterwards? Maybe you are still in denial that Jesus was abandoned by you in the first place. We all need to take responsibility for our actions against Jesus and stop blaming outside forces.
Let these words sink into your ears.
Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Blame it on the Devil
Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel. I Chronicles 21:1 NRSV
Looks like Satan, or "Big Red" as my friend Polly likes to say, was as active in Old Testament times as he is today. In this part of I Chronicles, David's problems don't begin with Bathsheba but with taking a census of the people. This wasn't David's own idea, however, but Satan's interference. Up until now, David was having a relatively positive and growing reign. Obviously, Satan was not happy with this and chose to stand up and incite David.
I can personally say that Satan has stood up and incited me to make wrong decisions and take godless actions. In fact, I would dearly love to blame Satan for a whole host of mistakes, poor decisions and unwise choices throughout my life. However, I must admit that sometimes I don't need Satan's help with these. Okay, most of the time I don't need Satan's influence. I do a fine job of messing up my life on my own.
I think all of us could spend our time blaming Satan for our problems. But perhaps we give the devil too much credit. We need to admit what we have personally done wrong. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. I think when we do this, Satan actually loses power over us.
God, protect us from being incited to do wrong things, no matter who or what is behind them. Help us to take responsibility for our own faults and mistakes. And forgive us whenever we do let you down. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Looks like Satan, or "Big Red" as my friend Polly likes to say, was as active in Old Testament times as he is today. In this part of I Chronicles, David's problems don't begin with Bathsheba but with taking a census of the people. This wasn't David's own idea, however, but Satan's interference. Up until now, David was having a relatively positive and growing reign. Obviously, Satan was not happy with this and chose to stand up and incite David.
I can personally say that Satan has stood up and incited me to make wrong decisions and take godless actions. In fact, I would dearly love to blame Satan for a whole host of mistakes, poor decisions and unwise choices throughout my life. However, I must admit that sometimes I don't need Satan's help with these. Okay, most of the time I don't need Satan's influence. I do a fine job of messing up my life on my own.
I think all of us could spend our time blaming Satan for our problems. But perhaps we give the devil too much credit. We need to admit what we have personally done wrong. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. I think when we do this, Satan actually loses power over us.
God, protect us from being incited to do wrong things, no matter who or what is behind them. Help us to take responsibility for our own faults and mistakes. And forgive us whenever we do let you down. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
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