Don't Play with Fire
Deuteronomy 18:9-13: "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to iimitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord you God will drive out those nations before you. 13You must be blameless before the Lord you God."
Every morning over coffee, millions flip to the horoscope section of the newspaper. Some even have personalized astrological charts or channelers. In stored, in desk drawers, and in toy chests are tarot cards, Ouija boards, Dungeons and Dragons games and comic books with demonic characters. Palms are read at county fairs, and people look into teacups for a glimpse of the future.
Many think that such activities are either innocent practices or harmless nonsense. Yet to God they are an abomination because people are choosing to open their lives to Satan's plans of demise. When we consult a supernatural source other than God for information, however lightheartedly, we can open ourselves to powers of darkness. The danger is in our choice - our willingness to seek others rather than God for what seems like a harmless glimpse into the future.
The living God loves us and wants to be our only source of supernatural activity. He knows that He alone has the wisdom to be our guide.*
Food for thought: Have you invited the devil into your life by seeking guidence outside of God? Repent and ask for God's restoration.
Consider:
1 Chronicles 10:13-14: "Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidence, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."
Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
John 10:1-14: " "I tell you the truth, the man who soes not enter the sheep pen byy the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never folow a stranger; in face, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus uses this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were theives and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (kept safe). He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep an runs away. The the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." "
*Sherman, Dean. Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian: How to Live in Victory and Retake the Land: YWAM Publishing, 1990.
