Pastor Dale Kurtz laughed so hard that his sides ached. He was watching a frustrated squirrel trying to climb the metal pole supporting a bird feeder. The squirrel repeatedly got part way up, then slowly slid down the pole in a heap. In an describing this incident, Kurtz wrote, "What the squirrel didn't know was that I had greased the pole!"
Kurtz then pointed out that "greasing the pole" is one of Satan's tactics to hinder Christians in their spiritual climb. The "grease" he often uses is our own pride, complacency, and self-sufficiency. How he must laugh!
In today's Bible reading, Peter listed four things that will help us continue in our spiritual climb and not slide back:
- Submitting to one another (1 Pet. 5:5).
- Humbling ourselves before Almighty God (v.6).
- Casting all our care on our caring Lord (v.7).
- Disciplining ourselves and being watchful (v.8).
These four actions and attitudes enable us to resist Satan's attacks (v.9) and allow God's grace to strengthen us and cause us to be established in our faith (v.10).
Satan wants to keep us from making progress in our spiritual life. With the Lord's help, though, we can keep on climbing. — Joanie Yoder
Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus' way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes. --Brandt
To avoid sin's tragedy, learn Satan's strategy.