Dear Faith Family, 

Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, (1 Peter 5:8). 

Sooooo, yesterday was opening day of turkey season.  But you already knew that, right?  And you also knew that I would talk about turkeys in today's blog, right?  A few squawks on the turkey call as I paused on the road in the woods.  And what to my wondering ears did appear?  But a gobble, of course, in the woods quite near! 

A few more yards in I hunkered down against a tree.  Let the games begin.  One more set of seductive calls solicited yet another response.  This time closer.  Here they come!  One, two, three…seven red heads!  One in full strut.  They had no idea that tucked in behind all that camouflage was an adversary, one who wanted to invite “Tom” over for lunch. 

I think the devil would make a good turkey hunter.  He’s deceptive (he camouflages his true colors).  He’s good at imitating the truth (he can talk turkey).  And he’s good at twisting the truth to serve his purposes, to devour (given the chance he will eat you for lunch). 

Could that be one of the reasons that our God gave to us some 59 reciprocal (“one another”) commands?  We need to encourage one another daily with the truth of God’s Word.  We need to bear one another’s burdens.  We need to tell each other the truth.  We need to serve one another.  We need to teach one another.  We need to be kind to one another.  In short?  We need to love one another. 

When we fail to take seriously the reciprocal commands, we are left with the weather, sports, and entertainment.  Isn’t it interesting how easy it is to talk about someone out there?  If our relationships are defined simply by superficiality, the enemy has already succeeded!  We are left vulnerable. 

We need to be standing guard over each other’s lives.  That requires depth in our relationships.  Who has permission to speak truth into your life?  Who would you listen to if they warned you about a roaring lion lurking in the tall grass of temptation in your life? 

Since there is a roaring lion.  Since we really do love one another.  Doesn’t it stand to reason that we ought to move beneath the surface of relationship?  Shouldn’t we encourage one another even in the deepest recesses of our lives (the places where the enemy loves to hide)?  So go ahead and invite “Tom” to lunch before “someone else” does! 

Loving one another, 
Pastor Karl