I began my day thinking about my childhood versus my husband, Mark's. I'm not sure why I think about the things I do, but that was how my day started.
Mark tells stories of the days he used to get spanked by his mama. One story in particular he tells is when his mama Anna Jane Brewer put her foot on his and whooped him in circles when he acted up in church.
Based on what I know of him, I'd have to agree that he probably needed that whooping.
For example, we were Christmas shopping in Branson a few years back, and I'd left my heavy purse in the car. I found a pair of pants for one of the girls, and mark told me just to use his wallet.
So, I took the wallet with the pants to the counter while Mark ambled out of the store. A woman was checking out at the right side of the counter, so I laid the pants on the left side. I slid the card out of Mark's wallet, and right at that exact time, he jerked the door to the store open and yelled, "Has anyone seen a man's wallet?" Then he got even louder, "HEY! THAT WOMAN HAS MY WALLET!"
Where was his mama when I needed her?
He's lucky I didn't take a page out of Anna Jane's book and tear him a new one right then and there.
My honey is a trickster, that's for sure. He's always trying to get one over on me! Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's not! Regardless of whether it's funny or not, it's always harmless. He does it in good fun, and no one gets hurt.
There are all types of harmless tricks we can play on one another in this life. But what about the tricks that are not so harmless?
Two categories come to mind.
Satan's Tricks
The devil has a lot of practice at tricking us – he's been doing it since the beginning! We've been warned repeatedly, yet so many fail to heed these warnings!
2 Corinthians 11:3 – "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Satan has used the same three ways to trick us since the beginning. They worked so well he didn't have to change it up.
1 John 2: 15-17 – "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
The Lust of the Flesh
This is having an evil desire for things of the flesh. Any fleshly desire against God's will would fall in this category.
Romans 13:14 – "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
The Lust of the Eyes
This speaks of eyes that are delighted with riches, possessions, and the flesh's desires. Covetousness, deceitful desires, and hurtful lusts fall into this category.
1Pet. 2:11 – "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"
2Pet. 3:3 – "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;"
Luke 12:15 – "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
The Pride of Life
This is a vain craving for honor and being lifted up and includes refusing to repent of and confess your sins.
Proverbs 16:18 – "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
The Tricks We Try to Play on God
When you worship God, would you rather be someplace else? If you answered yes to that question, be aware that God knows this. You may be able to trick man by putting on an outward display, but there's no tricking our Heavenly Father.
God knows all things.
Let that sink in for a minute.
He knows if you worship Him in vain. He knows if you'd rather be home cooking lunch. He knows if you'd rather be at the ballgame.
Remember the man Jonah? He tried to trick God, to no avail. God knew! He could not be fooled!
Now that's something to think about.
Are you tired of falling for Satan's tricks? Or maybe you've been trying to trick God, and you're ready to stop?
Great news! You can! God has given us all free will – the will to obey or not. The choice is yours. I would beg you to study scriptures and make the right choice.
Not sure where to start? How about right here?
Like my husband says, when he is preaching, it’s a cookie-cutter process. What made them Christians in the 1st century will make us Christians today. What is that process?
Hear the Gospel. (Romans 10:17, John 8:32)
Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Please.
Reach out to me if you have questions or want to study. I am ready and willing. I will be there for you.
In Christian Love,
Leah Brewer
Mark Anthony Brewer at 21 months old. Photo taken by his mama!