October 29, 2024 Devo

This question that Jesus asked is really a disturbing one. As I sat with it, it made me reflect on some really uncomfortable truths. Not the least of which is that I’m a lot more of a fallen man than I care to admit. But it also awakened me to the truth that our minds and hearts are truly the battleground where we meet the Enemy and that we need to FIGHT him, not entertain him!
So why DO we entertain evil thoughts sometimes? Let me give you a few different reasons. We entertain evil thoughts about other people because we’re angry, frustrated, or disappointed in them. Then the Enemy takes those negative emotions and tries to fan them into flames with his lies and deception. He tries to get us to believe that these other people have evil motives. He tries to sell us on the idea that these people are uncaring, self-centered, or hard-hearted. The more fuel he can throw on our thoughts and feelings about them, the more we feel justified in thinking and feeling the way that we do. Ignoring Jesus’ commands to forgive, love, and reconcile, we rationalize pulling away, belittling them to others, or getting even. Funny as it seems, our thoughts and emotions became an internal retaliation. The problem is that we’re only hurting ourselves.
But how about evil thoughts of lust, greed, or pride? Why do we entertain those? Honestly? Because we ENJOY them. If sin wasn’t pleasurable no one would ever sin! But it’s pleasurable because the Enemy only shows us how good lust feels, not how it dehumanizes those we lust after or how destructive it can be in our lives and relationships. He tells us that “greed is good” and that it helps us get ahead. He tries to blind us to the fact that it’s CONTENTMENT that we’re after, but that is a gift that God gives and has nothing to do with what we have. We entertain pride because pride covers up our insecurity. Looking down on others takes our minds off how bad we feel about ourselves.
Evil thoughts come. They are the seeds of an Enemy who wishes for those evil thoughts to become evil attitudes and eventually, evil behavior. Though we can’t prevent him from scattering those seeds each day, we can prevent them from taking root in our minds and hearts. Listen to the question of Jesus again and get real about the battle that’s going on for your soul. And stop entertaining the Devil. That’s God’s Word for you today.