The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Ministers usually don’t have problems finding the right words. Even so, last week the Washington Post reported an incident that may have left many preachers tongue-tied.
According to the article, a group of friends in Washington, D.C. were having a dinner party on the patio of one of their homes. That’s when a thief, his face covered by a hood, slid through an open gate and pointed his gun at the head of a 14-year-old girl. His demand was simple. He said, “Give me your money, or I’ll start shooting.” Everyone froze, except for one woman who said, “We were just finishing dinner. Why don’t you have a glass of wine with us?” The robber took her up on the offer and drank the entire glass. The host offered him the bottle. The thief took the bottle and helped himself to a bit of Camembert cheese. After awhile, the thief put his gun away and apologized, saying, “I think I may have come to the wrong house. Can I get a hug?”
They hugged him. He left. The dinner part moved inside the house, and they called the police.
While the police were amazed at the story of the gentle criminal, many Christians won’t be. We have heard Jesus warn, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Jesus knew that sin and Satan don’t always look sinister and menacing. They may, like the Washington thief, check us out and try to find our weaknesses. Like the Washington thief, they may try to slip into our lives without causing commotion. Like the Washington thief they may appear to be civilized, polite, and apologetic. They may even come to us appealing to our emotions and asking for our affection.
Jesus wants us to remember that no matter how the thief comes to us, he is there to steal, kill and destroy.
It was the Lord’s way of reminding us to avoid sin’s transgression and flee Satan’s temptations, no matter how good they look, or how smooth they talk.
It is far better to trust the Savior who comes into our lives to give and not to take, and far smarter to believe on Him who gave His life so we might have life and have it to the fullest.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit so we may reject the thieves of this world and learn to trust You, the giver of every good and perfect gift. In Your Name, Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 99-100,102 Acts 17:16-34
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