Most of the time, you probably notice that certain people are creating those divisions and the same people are often putting obstacles in your life. Obstacles as in tough decisions you might have to make, in order to live a righteous and obedient life. Those things really are obstacles because nothing in smooth sailing in this life.
The thing that gets us is that sometimes we don't even know that there are people around us who cause those divisions and who put those obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Those people are sneaky and they are deceiving.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are country to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. ( Romans 16: 17-20 )
A key part in that verse is that those people who are trying to keep you away from what is good are not serving Christ. They have their own agenda and their own appetites. Where we are so easily deceived is with the smooth talk and the flattery that is used. Sometimes it's easy for people to give into the smooth talk of those people.
I have noticed in my life, when I had a struggle with some things that the people around me were so easily convincing to to me. When I was get caught in the battle, I would tell myself, I got this. It was easy sometimes, but sometime the smooth talk would get to me. The smooth talk from maybe a couple peers but mainly the smooth deceiving talk of Satan. You have probably been in this situation before. You think that you have the battle at hand won, but you eventually give in and commit that sin.
It happens though, and it happens to people every single day.
It's also easy to see because sometimes we are unaware of the sin that we are committing.
Here's a look at James ...
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have learned, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. ( James 1: 22-25 )
I encourage you with that passage form James because I believe that we are unaware of our sin until we spend time in the word of God. The word of God is like that mirror. We look at it, we read it, and when you remember the things you learned you remember what you look like because you can see yourself in that mirror.
Maybe I am way out of context, but I believe that is how God wants me to use that scripture to encourage you.
I hope that this post encouraged you to be on the look out at all times. In order to be on the look out, I believe you have to be in the word. You don't only have to be in the word but you also have to be doing what the word says. When you do that, that is when you will develop a greater understanding between right and wrong. Just as Paul wrote in Romans, we need to be wise about what is good. When we are wise about what is good it changed our lives.
I have not mentioned it yet but did you catch the last verse in the Romans 16 passage I shared?
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. ( Romans 16:20 )
That verse fires me up! How awesome is that? God has already defeated Satan but he will soon crush him under our feet!
One of the greatest joys to me is winning spiritual battles and crushing Satan every single time. Satan tries to take our eyes off Jesus. Crushing Satan is the best. When I am in the midst of a battle and win I just think about kicking Satan's butt and laughing, and giving a little wink...saying "nice try."
If brings me great joy to win battles every single day.
If you are struggling to win these battles in your life, get into the word and it will change your life. It's changed mine. It's way easier to win a spiritual battle when you feel God's presence all the time and that happens when you are in the word on a consistent, every day basis.
Be on the look out my friends!
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