Do you wonder about life? Do you ponder your health, your
future relationships, your employment?
Almost all of us are curious about the future. This leads many otherwise intelligent people
to turn to those who claim to be able to peer over the edge of time for
answers. The American President, Ronald
Reagan, was advised by an astrologer after his near assassination in 1981! His wife, Nancy, was so full of fear for his
safety she secretly set his schedule based on readings of star charts. Then,
too, going way past the cards and star charts, there are those who say that
they can create a bridge to the world of the dead, looking to those ‘on the
other side’ for advice.
Perhaps you’re already saying, "Come on, Jerry, this is
the 21st century. Nobody takes that stuff seriously. It's all just fun." And some of you are indignant, “What’s wrong
with astrology or mediums? I get some good information from my horoscope.” If you
belong to Christ, there is no need to look to the occult for help. In fact, the
Scripture teaches us that dabbling in occult practices from astrology, to
consulting mediums, to outright witchcraft is a forbidden practice, a sin, for Christ’s
disciples. In the Old Testament, the Lord told His people, "I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and
spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from
his people." (Leviticus 20:6, NIV) In the New Testament, Paul warned
that "The Spirit clearly says that
in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and
things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV)
Why this prohibition? First, we need to know that there is
nothing to be gained from dabbling in alternative spirituality! We have the Holy Spirit living in us, empowering
us, and promising us security in the love of God. Occult practices may appear
to offer many of the same benefits, but those who dabble in them find
themselves enslaved. There are only
two sources for spiritual power- the Spirit of God or the Evil One. Satan and
his dark forces are real and powerful. Christians must 'walk in the Light' and have nothing to do with darkness.
We walk with God, His children, devoted to Him and kept
within His arms. Don’t dabble in the darkness. Don’t even play with what you
may think is just a little game. Give
yourself entirely to the Spirit. Trust
Him with the future.
Here's a word from the Word. Let Him guide you today. He
promised this to His people in ancient times and we rightly take this as our
birthright, too. "Your own ears will hear him. Right
behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the
right or to the left." (Isaiah 30:21, NLT)
"So
you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you
received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him,
“Abba, Father. …And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we
don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with
groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all
hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers
in harmony with God’s own will." (Romans 8:15, 26-27, NLT)
______
Gentle
Shepherd
Gentle
Shepherd, come and lead us,
For
we need You to help us find our way.
Gentle
Shepherd, come and feed us
For
we need Your strength from day to day.
There's
no other we can turn to,
Who
can help us face another day.
Gentle
Shepherd, come and lead us,
For
we need You to help us find our way.
Gloria Gaither | William J. Gaither
© 1974 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright
Management
CCLI License # 810055
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