Values-Driven

As discussed earlier, humanity is caught in the middle of the epic struggle between God and His doomed foe, Satan. Our allegiance and affections are sought to glorify one or the other.
In a prior chapter, I likened our dilemma to a custody battle. Satan rebelled against (divorced) God and was kicked out of the house (heaven). Now Satan, to satisfy his own ego wants the children. He does not love the kids, but just wants them to get to God. So he works to win our allegiance and affections. Now the wayward parent always attracts the children with worldly things: riches, pleasures, and freedom to do as they please. And they tell lies about the good parent, designed to keep their allegiance.
Now the good parent is very different. Because they love the children and know what is best for them, they make them eat their lima beans, go to bed on time, and restrict their unhealthy appetites. So the foolish children chase immediate satisfaction at the expense of long term well being in the care of the wicked parent while the wise children seek the protection of the righteous parent.
Now I am confident that if you have read through this far in this short book, you have decided who will receive your allegiance and affection. And any of us who walked the path of wickedness knows full well that the devil’s allures, as attractive as they once were, lead to pain and heartache. So we have a very unique perspective. So many of our siblings are being deceived by the lies and give their allegiance to Satan.
So what are we to do about it? We need to tell them the truth. We need to go out there and show them where the lies end. We need to tell them that they are pawns in an epic battle for their allegiance and affection. We need to tell them that true freedom and fulfillment only comes through submitting unconditionally to our Heavenly Father.
Making disciples is simply taking people through the healing process of becoming free from the devil’s lies, and surrendering to a loving Father. Then, we help them get closer to their righteous and holy Father, and nurture a zeal to take others on the journey of truth and freedom.
Friends, Jesus tells us to love our enemies because they are not our enemies; they are simply deceived children used as pawns to steal God’s glory. So let’s go out there and steal our wayward siblings from the clutches of their deceiving father, the devil.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a, NASB)
Now go out there and spark an unquenchable fire of Kingdom expansion!
Lord God Almighty. I pray that your glory will cover the whole earth. I pray that the enemy would cringe at the advancement of your glory. I pray that your laborers would storm the gates of hell, and initiate an unstoppable movement of radically transformed lives. Lord, empower your people. Be glorified. In Jesus’ name. Amen.