Job 25, 26, and Luke 17
In Job 25, Bildad says, “God is powerful and dreadful. He enforces peace in the heavens.” In the next chapter, Job reminds us of God’s greatness in verse 11: “The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.”
God’s greatness is beyond my understanding. Horseback riding through the forest, surrounded by beauty, gives me a glimpse of His majesty.
Luke 17. This chapter begins with warnings about temptation and leading others astray.
‘One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. ‘
Luke 17:1-2
“Tempt” and “influence” seem similar. Today, many aspire to be influencers—even colleges offer classes on it. What are these influencers trying to do? Are they really tempters, following the slimy trail of the first tempter? Many are leading us in the wrong direction for clicks, and cash. A friend told me, “I had to get off TikTok because the majority of what I scrolled through seemed to be trying to influence me toward new-age junk.” Verse 3 starts with this command:
So watch yourselves!
I need to pay attention to what I watch and listen to. What feelings is this video, song, picture, or story trying to create in me? Is it leading me closer to Christ or pulling me away? Could I take a break from social media, TV, or secular music for even one day?
America was once more influenced by God, with positive messages in the media. Now, offensive content is common. The shift began long ago; we all know the media shapes public opinion, often leading us astray. In the 40’s, the film “The Outlaw” created controversy by showing cleavage. The 90s show “Friends” normalized casual sex. The main characters had a slew of partners. I never questioned what message that sent or how it influenced me.
I was too distracted by TV to reflect on its impact. I couldn’t see the trees for the forest. We need to stay alert and watch what we let in.
‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ‘ 1 Peter 5:8
Lord, God of all creation, help me see the traps and wickedness of the enemy. Give us discernment to recognize anything that offends you. I pray that any seeds the enemy tries to plant in our lives will not grow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.