NO TRESPASSING

It has been said, "birds of a feather; flock together." No wonder the devil just makes himself at home in our heart-houses. Why wouldn't he want to move in? We put up window treatments. You know; shades of deceit. We provide couches of slothfulness and recliners/seats of scorn. We cook up his favorite meals of gossip, back-biting, and 'white-lies'. We even have left-over grudges. Why! that's his favorite dessert. And what about the jacuzzi with 24 jets of pride to keep him feeling fit? Ahhhh, but we keep the front room bright and shining.....

Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

place: any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space 1a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district 1b) a place (passage) in a book 2) metaph. 2a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly 2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting

If we want to root the devil out, we are going to have to clean up our heart-houses. We will have to replace his favorites with the things he hates. We will have to fill our place with all that is godly and righteous. And we will have to make and enforce a policy of "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY". Satan is a trespasser and must be treated as such.

While I am not a whole-hearted supporter of the Message version, this passage makes a nice wrap for today's post. Ephesians 4:23-32

29Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.30Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Deb @ another unfinished symphony, adds her insights on creating a climate for spiritual growth. Stop by leave her a comment or two.