The Devil Made Me Do It!

Just before being ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church I had the opportunity to spend and seventy-two-hour retreat with Bishop Bruce Blake, our bishop for the North Texas Conference at that time. In one of our discussions our expressed how when good things were happening for the Kingdom of God here on this earth, in our communities, in our churches, that Satan works overtime to destroy and sabotage the plans for the growth of the Kingdom. Bishop Blake confronted me on that position and stated that even though Satan was a real, he did not want to give him top billing or lots of press time, or credit. He stated that it was people’s actions that were contrary to God’s will and commandments that was more the problem to emphasize.

Now I did take Bishop Blake’s wisdom to heart and understand his position. However, sometimes we need to some tangible blame on why we have acted a certain way; some of us have said in the past, “the devil made me do it.” Well, I don’t believe that either. I do believe, that Satan does work overtime to seek and destroy and to sabotage, yet, it is our actions or inaction, giving in to temptation and sinning against God that is the real problem.

I have said and observed in the past that Jesus gives us a blueprint for life within God’s will and commandments...whether it is the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22: 37-39, or Matthew 25:34-40 “done it unto the least of these,” or the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, especially the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. These are just some of the viable components of God’s blueprint of behavior for us all as disciples of Jesus Christ.

However, the other day I received a very provocative email that cut to my heart approaching the Beatitudes from not God’s blueprint but from Satan’s blueprint (not to give Satan top billing). These statements challenge all of us and verify what Bishop Blake declared, “people’s action contrary to God’s will and commandments. Please read these statements with an open heart to God’s transforming Spirit in each of our lives:

If Satan were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Believers -- they are my best workers.

Blessed are those Believers who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.

Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.

Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.

Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons --ALRIGHT!!!!

Blessed is the congregation member who expects to be invited to his own congregation -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that
please me.

Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.

Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.

Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he
shall be with me forever.

Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other people and not self -- I've got you too! YES!!!

Now this is not pointing fingers at you who read this, but rather a challenge for each of us. I do know that I am able to point at myself in these statements. May God give each of us the strength to not give Satan a foothold and become part of the saboteur’s plan to shrink the Kingdom of God. God please help us to live up to Your blueprint as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,


Pastor Jack