Thursday, December 2, 2010

the Road Cutter & Puppies

This is an Advent devotional from Jeffrey Arthurs of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, based on 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

As we wait for the second Advent, Scripture tells us Satan prowls like a lion, or in the context of this passage, he is a “road cutter.” That term comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:18: “Satan hindered us.” The term “hinder” was originally a military term meaning to “chop” or “cut.” In the ancient world, retreating armies would chop up the road behind them to hinder the advancing army. That’s what Satan does. He hinders the advancement of the gospel by destroying the testimony of the messengers, by causing disunity and by persecuting the witnesses; and that can turn us into “puppies.” The word for “unsettled” in 3:3 was used to describe the wriggling and shaking of puppies. No wonder the apostle thanks God that his dear people in Thessalonica were standing firm (vs. 8), and no wonder he prays that God would strengthen their hearts (vs. 13). As Satan tries to delay, hinder and stop the spread of the gospel, may you be strengthened, and may you be blameless and holy in the presence of God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again (vs. 13).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that satan is blamed for much of the evil in the world. Let us not beguile ourselves, the simple fact remains that humankind is not basically good. While that can make the world sad, so does earthquakes, disease, death and the astonishing amount of suffering imposed on one human being by another. As the French say "les faits de la vie" -
the facts of life.
Fortunately for us Christians the Advent season reminds us that it was God who took the nessesary action to help us make peace with the painful faits de la vie...He sent Jesus!

p.s.
5:43 a.m. posting? what time do you start your day?
foxhole faith forever

Pastor Bob Leroe said...

I agree we can't say "the devil made me do it" every time. Usually we're to blame, not the prince of darkness. Jesus came to battle the darkness with His light, the hopefull message of Christmas.