Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 21

Submit to God and Resist the Devil

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” James 4:7.

The final eruption of Mount Saint Helens in May of 1980 was not a sudden event. For two months prior to the massive blast, earthquakes and volcanic activity signaled a major event was underway. Authorities had plenty of time to sound the alarm and warn those living nearby of the looming danger. Yet, despite the seriousness of the threat, some people chose to disregard the warnings.

Harry Randall Truman, an eighty-three year old man, was the owner and caretaker at the Mount Saint Helens’ Lodge at Spirit Lake. He had survived the sinking of his troop ship by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland during World War I, and he was not about to leave just because scientists thought there was danger. Truman told reporters, “I don’t have any idea whether it will blow. But I don’t believe it to the point that I’m going to pack up.” On May 18, 1980, Truman and his lodge were buried beneath 150' of mud and debris from the volcanic eruption. His body was never found.

Most Christians do not fall suddenly into sinful destruction. Typically, Satan will lure us into a single sin that becomes a pattern. All the while, the Holy Spirit is convicting us and warning us of the destruction to come. Yet, if we do not heed the warnings, we will soon be buried deep in the destruction that sin brings. Sometimes, the destruction is so great that our sin has ruined everything we once knew and loved.

We must consistently submit ourselves to God in daily Bible study and prayer. Then, we must consistently say no to Satan’s temptations. Our key verse assures us that our consistent obedience will cause Satan to give up his attempt to draw us into a particular sin and walk away from us. Be sure, Satan will try again and again with different temptations. But, the Christian who remains in submission to God will have the strength to overcome.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Do not give in to Satan’s ploys—not even a little bit.

Steven Ridings