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Msg #567 Wed, July 29, 2009
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"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Beware of thieves!
The dictionary defines a thief as: One who steals, who takes property belonging to someone else, especially by stealth.
The thief steals another’s property. This is sad when it speaks of things that we have in this world. Yet, Christian, the truth is that we were going to leave behind the stuff in this world anyway. Thus the loss is not that great. Yet, there is a more perilous thief – one who steals not earthly treasure…but heavenly. John says it this way.
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. (2 Jn 8)
Christian, you greatest treasures are not the things you have in this life, you will leave these behind. You great treasures are spiritual possessions God gives into your life. It is these eternal treasures that Jesus is referring to in this verse… these eternal treasures that we do not want to lose. Christian, I call you to value and guard these spiritual treasures – knowing you have a thief who wants to steal them.
The thief’s success often depends on stealth and a unsuspecting victim. It is right here that I want to speak to you as practically as I can. I want to challenge you to expect that we have an enemy that wants to steal your eternal treasures. In fact, I think you can count on it. Every time God does something really good in your life, sows some great truth or work – the enemy will be lurking in the shadows seeking to steal what God has done.
I often think of Jesus taking Peter, John and James up on the Mount of Transfiguration and showing them the most glorious thing of all – Himself glorified. It was an amazing experience – one that Peter would write about later in his own letter.
…we…were eyewitnesses of His majesty. …And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Pe 1:16-18)
It was a huge spiritual investment and treasure. Yet at the foot of the mountain, as they came down – there was a demoniac waiting for them. It changed the scene, mood and so much more. Could it be that the timing of this was to rob them of the glorious encounter that they just had? I think so. In my own life, I have come to expect it – to expect that as God does something good in me, for me – that the enemy will be around a the next bend, seeking to steal what God has done. Because I expect the thief in such times….I seek to protect the things God has done in me.
A thief expected is creates a treasure twice protected. If we expect the thief, we can and will seek to hold onto what the thief is after….and we can keep him from obtaining it.
It is a simple thought I put before you today….don’t let the thief obtain and steal the things God is doing in you! Expect him…and hold fast to the things God is showing you and giving you!
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10)
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. (2 Jn 8)
Jim
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