FOREWARNED IS FORE-ARMED -- Devotional for September 30, from "Good Seeds"

For a wide door for effective service has opened to me – and there are many adversaries. (I Corinthians 16:9)

Although Satan is “Public Adversary #1,” he has many helpers, some even that he has enlisted from the other side, God’s side! Charles Spurgeon had a faithful prayer team that assembled to pray every Sunday morning while he preached – but they were praying for his downfall! The wide open door for the servant of God is never without stumbling blocks placed at our feet to trip us up if we’re not careful. Sometimes God shuts one door so we will see and enter another door leading to the place and work He has intended for us. Robert Frost spoke of two roads diverging “in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could.” We think the choice is ours, to pick one road over the other. Maybe, but don’t forget that God has particular plans for His children, just as He did for His Son. The “wide door” for Jesus was the open road to Jerusalem, the straight path – a crash course! – to Calvary. Peter, realizing the danger, advised Jesus against going. The Savior’s best friend became his worst enemy that day, if only for a moment. Jesus had to say, “Peter, you’re not helping, you’re hindering. You’re speaking the devil’s words. And you’re being used by him to attempt to plant his thoughts into My mind. So get thee hence!” (see Matthew 16:22-23). Yes, there are many adversaries. We must not be unaware of Satan’s devices, or unmindful of the devil’s tools. Next time you see an open road before you and you are confident you know exactly what to do, for God is leading you – and you hear yourself saying, “Nothing can stop me now!” just watch out: something very big – or worse yet, something very small – may just trip you up, hidden until its advantage over you is secured. We may enjoy smooth sailing for a time, once we’re on God course, but the wide door of opportunity is like the eye of a hurricane – deceptively peaceful, but ready to blow you to kingdom come as soon as you make a move. Be comforted in knowing that no matter what stage of life you are in, and no matter what former strengths you may have lost and new weaknesses you must acknowledge, still there is a wide door of opportunity for you, to live for Jesus, in the unique way God has designed just for you, until your time on earth is over. But know also, that though you desire and anticipate smooth sailing, with strong good winds to fill those sails, the devil has not yet been bound. He’s still on the loose. He’s still that roaring lion, ready to pounce on your plans and devour your dedication (and a lion never roars to announce his coming, but to gloat over his sure victory). Forewarned is fore-armed.