Devotional - Aug. 7, 2024

Scripture: Galatians 4:17  Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.

It is both frustrating and aggravating that scam artists are everywhere.  Somehow, lying and being deceitful became okay.  Anyone can call you, email or text you, and try to scam you almost risk free.  So, it is up to you to stay safe.  Spiritually, the same is true.  Paul is doing his best, even to a fault, to get the Galatians back on track.  Why would they be so gullible?  The same reason we all are.  All of us have deep needs for fulfillment, even spiritually.  The Galatians are confronted by this group of "believers" who say they have the "truth" the "real" path to God and the Galatian go for it.  They want it.  They believe if they do as these people do, all will be well.  They will have everything they want.  If they only knew the truth about those people.  But look at Paul, he gets sick.  His personality is not always the best.  He complains ...a lot.  He gets in trouble ...a lot.  Long story short, he is not that attractive or impressive in any way.  And, they are right.  But remember, Paul's ministry is not about Paul.  It is about what God did through Jesus Christ (Phillipian 3: 1-11).  Paul knows his situation and he advises people to go in the same direction he is going ( Philippians 3:14).  Spiritual scammers work much like secular scammers, they focus on areas where people feel vulnerable.  They focus on areas inside of us.  Our fears, our short-coming, places where we lack knowledge.  Even the best of us can be tricked in these circumstances.  The good news is, there are some things we can do to safe-guard ourselves.  They too, are very similar to what safe-guards us secularly.  Use the six second rule, if someone comes on strong or tells you to believe this or that, don't go with it.  Instead pause (hence the 6 sec), take some time and separate yourself from the situation and decide for yourself.  Tell them, I will think about it.  In doing so, be ready to protect yourself.  Pray, do your own research, seek the truth.  Above all, trust that God is with you in the process (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).  And, if God be for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31-39).  Folks, you have time, never be pushed into things.  There is a reason for the pushing or threatening, overt or implied, actions of those trying to influence you.  Stay anchored in your faith in God and do what you need to do to stay informed and safe (Isaiah 30:15).  And, if you do get caught off guard, report it, deal with it, and move on.  Don't beat yourself up over it, just learn from it.  God is still with you.

Pray with me ..., Holy God we can easily be overwhelmed by all the scamming and deceit that goes on around us each day.  Keep us mindful of Your presence in our life.  You are faithful.  Hear us as we pray for our loved ones, bless them we pray.  And bless our church, so we can be the people you call us to be, in Jesus' name, Amen.

God's peace,

Pastor Brian