Never Pour Gasoline on the Embers

Of course the devil is the accuser of the brethren, he causes trouble and then acts like the victim. We can see the devil operating increasingly as the times of the end are closer. Not only is the devil doing this in heaven he is also doing it on earth, through twisting the minds of the ungodly. His aim is to continually use those who are vulnerable to his wiles to unnerve the believer.

1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"

Revelation 12:9-11 "…9 And the great dragon was hurled down—the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.…"

If we stay close to the Lord, we can endure these attacks without allowing our emotions overtake us. When we lean into our emotions we will find ourselves doing and saying things that we wish we had not. It is easier to ignore our emotions, carry on in obedience than it is to clean up the mess we caused by expressing our feelings.

Feelings come and go, they should not be what motivates us, they will pass and when they do we can look back and be thankful that we did not throw gasoline on an already smoldering fire. God knows those with whom we can share truth, we must seek Him to speak and act through us.

Proverbs 23:8-9 "…8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments. 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

There will be many people who have contempt in their heart for us because we tell the truth.  It is best to avoid them or be silent when we are unable to escape their presence.  When the encounter is over we can enjoy the peace of knowing we didn’t ignite the unrestrained passions of a contemptuous mocker.