07 November 2005 Devotion for Today "Locking Horns" James 4:1-4

07 November 2005   Devotion for Today  “Locking Horns”  James 4:1-4

 

¹ Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet^[a] you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  James 4:1-4

 

A few years ago I saw a trophy of deer horns hanging on the wall at a castle in Babenhausen, Germany.  I had seen many such deer trophies before, but none like this one.  It was actually two deer heads mounted on the wall, facing each other, with their horns locked together.  It seems that while they had been fighting, butting heads, and determined to defend their respective territories and lay claim to their mate- their horns became irretrievably locked together.  In their struggle to dominate one another, they did not notice the approach of the huntsman who killed both of them and carried them back to the castle for a sumptuous feast. 

 

It did not take me long to reflect upon how this applies to our lives as well.  When we strive and fuss as Christians, insisting upon our own way, “locking horns,” as it were, we are never more susceptible to Satan and his desire to bring us down.  Actually, we make easy targets for him when we struggle to dominate one another.  In the first place, we create a tense environment for everyone around; it detracts from the glory of Jesus Christ; it creates a poor witness to the world around us and; conflict tends to “kill off” our effectiveness as Christians no matter whom may be viewed as right or wrong.  In a situation like this, the only winner is the destroyer of our souls.

 

Are you “locking horns” with anyone today?  Seek to make it right as soon as you can, even if you have to “give in” it is much preferable than to have both of you insisting on your own way and having both parties overcome by Satan. 

 

Have a blessed day!

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

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