Day 33 | Predators, Poisons, and Pests: The Sheep's Enemies - Shawna

A sheep’s enemies are countless. They are dumb and defenseless, remember? Shepherd David would have defended his sheep from predators like lions and bears with a sling and a stone.

Our enemies today are countless as well. As we read yesterday, we fight a spiritual battle against the devil, but he uses all kinds of schemes to entice, trick, and lure us away from the safety provided by our shepherd.

In America today, I believe the biggest weapons that Satan uses are our cell phones and money.

That little device that you keep on you, day and night (yes, a study shows that a large percentage of Americans even sleep with their phone in their bed), is a great tool of Satan’s to distract you and force your eyes away from your Shepherd.

We spend so much time on our phones. Yes, some of it might be for work or school, but even then, do we lose our boundaries, so we don’t have time carved out for our families, God, and rest? Stress rises and focus decreases when we are constantly interrupted by our phones.

At times, we draw mindlessly away to lose ourselves in social media or a video game. Wouldn’t it be more refreshing to spend that time in prayer, resting in the Lord and focusing our hearts and minds on Him?

Have our phones become idols? If the thought of not having your phone for a day or a week completely stresses you out, then likely, you are worshipping your phone. If you check your phone first thing in the morning or last thing at night, it likely has too high a place in your life. Start your day with the Lord. Pray to Him before you ever look at your phone, and may the first thing you do on your phone each day be something that draws you closer to the Lord (perhaps a devotional in the MCC app!). At night, try putting your phone away 30-60 minutes before bed. Studies show that decreases anxiety and improves sleep quality. Fall asleep by talking to God, your Good Shepherd. Start and end every day with Him, not with your phone.

Money. The more we have, the more we want. Jesus was pretty clear on the dangers of money:

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

-Matthew 6:19-24

You cannot serve both God and money. Are you controlling your money or is it controlling you?

If we believe…

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.                                    -Psalm 24:1

…then we recognize that all our money and “stuff” isn’t really ours… it belongs to God. Anything we have is entrusted to us by God and He asks us to steward it wisely and generously. Throughout the Old and New Testament we see God’s care for the poor. In fact, just prior to Jesus saying you cannot serve both God and money, He says:

 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.                -Matthew 6:2-4

Notice it says “when you give to the needy,” not, “if you give to the needy.” Jesus assumes we will give to the poor. We fight the spiritual enemy of greed through generosity. We recognize that God is a God of abundance, and because He has been generous to us, we must be generous to others.

REFLECT

1. How does Satan use your cell phone to rob you of peace and joy, or keep your eyes off your Shepherd?

2. Do you believe all of your money and possessions are God’s? Do you pray often about how He wants to use them?

PRAYER

Father, forgive me for allowing idols to creep into my life and keep my eyes off you. Forgive me for not trusting you to provide everything I need. Forgive me for greed and lack of contentment. Forgive me for spending so much time on my phone that I often neglect to look around me, being present in the moment, enjoying the people and nature that you have created. You have been so generous to me. Help me to be generous to others. Give me wisdom how you want to use my time, talents, and treasure.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Try spending a day away from your phone. If you need it for emergencies, turn off all apps except the ability to receive calls.

Give generously. If you would like to help the poor through MCC, visit

mcc.church/give, and designate your giving as “benevolence.”