Friday, January 20, 2006

Saved From The "Fowler's Snare"

"Today's Devotion" For January 20, 2006

Read: Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 91

SAVED FROM THE "FOWLER'S" SNARE

"I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.'" (Ps. 91:2-4)

This morning's paper had a first-page side story with the title, "Bin Laden offers a truce to U.S." At first glance, if you just read the title, it looks as if there's some progress being made in the heart and actions of this "mastermind of terror." Then your eye catches the subtitle, "In taped message, al-Qaida leader also wans fo plans for new attacks." Talk about conflicting messages!

Now the essence of the offer is contained in both titles. In the body of the story we're told that Bin Laden's taped message stated the al-Qaida is "preparing to mount new attacks on the United States, but he offered a truce to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." Citing public discontent in the U.S. with the war in Iraq, he bragged, "our situation, thank God, is getting better and better, while your situation is the opposite of that. We don't mind offering you a long-term truce on fair conditions that we adhere to."

Talk about a double-edged sword. First "Bin Laden giveth and then he taketh away." When I read this I couldn't help but be reminded of Satan's temptation of Jesus as Matthew records it in his Gospel. As we read Matthew account we are shown very clearly to what lengths Satan will go to perpetuate his evil designs on God's creation, including luring the Son of God Himself into his web of deceit and evil. First he challenges Jesus' strength and abilities which would make His power and person known for all the wrong things - turning the stones into bread to break His forty-day fast and throwing Himself from the pinnacle of the Temple to "test" God's angels. Then, finally, when Jesus had overcome each of these temptations, Satan offers Him a truce - "Just fall down and worship me and the fighting will end; there will be no more battles."

Now let's not infer from this that we’re putting the U.S. up as “Jesus” and Bin Laden as “Satan” (although if the “shoe fits…”). I suppose in some religious corners there are those who would draw that inference. In comparing Jesus' temptation by Satan and his bargaining with our Lord with this offer for a truce from Osama Bin-Laden and al-Qaida, we are looking at the very real and extraordinary ways with which Satan seeks to confuse people. He is very good at painting a picture in which "good looks evil, and the evil looks good." Yet, as in the case of Satan's temptation of Jesus, rather than being a "good faith" attempt at true “peaceful coexistence,” it's a backhanded approach to controlling the situation and, in the end, the world, by giving something on one hand and, if we're not listening, alert, and looking, taking it away with the other.

The Psalmist words, "a fowler's snare," fit so well the deceit and cunning of the devil and the evil he promotes in his attempts to control the world and keep it away from God. So often evil tricks us into accepting its promises, fooling us into thinking that compromising with it will bring peace and tranquility to life. Reality, as is made evident by history, tells us that as soon as evil has us looking the other way, it will do its best to consume us.

By God grace and mercy in Jesus Christ, we have the power to overcome evil and not fall into "the fowler's snare" that Satan throws up before to catch us and keep us from God's love and forgiveness in Jesus. False overtures of peace and safety from the evil one and his followers are nothing compared with God's peace in our hearts and lves through His forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Lord. As we measure the offerings of evil for peace and safety we put them up against God's Word and promises and find them sorely lacking in truth and love. As Jesus was able to overcome the devil's temptations with the power of God's Word, so also are we able to do the same.

We are saved from "the fowler's snare" by God's grace and mercy in Christ. Each day we live with the faith and confidence that no matter what happens to us, no matter how harshly evil strikes out against us, and no matter how cunning evil is, the sin which fuels the evil is forgiven in Jesus and it has no power over us. By God's grace and mercy, standing on His promises, we are able to "see through" the wiles of the evil one and overcome. Our hope, after all, is in heaven with Jesus. No one and nothing can take that away from us.

Prayer: Father, so often the things people do in the world around me are powerful reminders that evil not only exists, but seeks, by "hook or crook," to get me to follow its path and live under its control. The devil does his level best to fool me into accepting his overtures for "peaceful coexistence," as he tried to do when he tempted Jesus. Too often I find myself falling into his trap, "the fowler's snare," and disobeying Your Word and forgetting Your promises. Too often I am tempted to put my faith in other, more material, immediate things, than the hope and promise of eternal life with You in heaven. Forgive me, Father, for Jesus' sake, and fill me with the power and presence of Your Word and Spirit that I may be equipped to discern those things which we lead me away from You. Help me to be a living example of Your love and forgiveness in Jesus and a "light" that shines the truth of Your love to a world sorely tempted by evil. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

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