An idea came to my mind this morning while reading the blogs. There are a few blogs that make my daily rounds on the Internet. One pastor writes of his week dealing with those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. He also notes his encounters with church people along the way. It struck me today that the conversations with the "heathen" are often more spiritually uplifting than those with the churched. If you asked me, and you may not have asked me, he is right on target. The thing that caught my eye today was his comment on how the devil seems to get in the midst of the religious to keep us from a godly focus.

My view is we shouldn't give the devil his due. Biblically speaking, the only due the devil is given is a final destination too horrible to imagine. Yet, there is this nagging thought of how much of God's purpose goes undone due to his influence. It never ceases to amaze me how the people of God can be distracted by the enemy. The devil seems to be in attendance at far too many church business meetings. The devil seems to be busy wrecking havoc among the members in their relationships. The devil appears too often in the choir, the deacons, and the church office.

My view is that Satan doesn't do his thing through the typical methods seen in movies or in books. My view is the responsibility lies square on the shoulders on us. It is our self centered living that invites the enemy to do his work. We want to blame books or music or outside influences but my experience says we are all too willing to let the devil in our life. We are the ones who refuse to control our tongues. We are the ones who insist on harboring bitterness or grudges against others. We are the ones who find other things to do than develop a godly spiritual life. We are the ones to blame.

From the first instance of Satan in operation in Genesis 3 his approach is to keep us acting on desires that are all too human. His question to us revolves around our being in charge of our lives, not God. While we redefine sin into big and little categories he uses the little to cause big problems. When we decide our rights are more important than obedience to God then he has his way. Who do we blame? We blame Satan all the time the problem lies in our heart. After all, it is far easier to fault another than to realize we are the ones who need repentance.

Bro. Trey