Craig Clouston

Are We a Threat?

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Ephesians 4:1

“You’re not much of a threat to Satan these days, Mike.” Shaw brought the indictment against his friend.

“What are you talking about?” Mike didn’t like the allegation.

“I mean that lately your lifestyle doesn’t bless heaven or threaten hell. You’re kind of ambiguous,” Shaw said matter-of-factly. “You’re a professing Christian, yet if a stranger were to watch you for twenty-four hours, I’m not sure he’d know it.”

“Where the hell do you get off judging me?” Mike was incensed.

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Shaw said, staring at his friend.

“What, exactly, are you talking about?” Mike said, exasperated.

“I’m talking about your angry attitude. You know, the one you used to swear at me in the process of denying my claim?” Shaw softened his approach, trying to make a point, not an enemy. “Look, I’m not your judge. And I don’t want you to think that’s what this is about. But Satan’s not threatened at all by you lately. You don’t represent any imminent danger to his kingdom. And you don’t shed much light in God’s either.”

Arrested by the truth of Shaw’s statement, Mike was suddenly overcome with conviction. He was indeed a professing Christian. But he had to admit he hadn’t been living a life that brought much glory to God recently.

†

Satan doesn’t need to pay much attention to many of today’s professing Christians. They just don’t represent a real threat to his kingdom. Many Christians go about living their lives, doing pretty much what they did prior to asking Jesus to save them. In other words, they’re not advancing the kingdom of Christ. Therefore, they’re no threat to Satan’s.

It’s not always easy to live for Christ. And sometimes we need a kick in the pants to get us back on track. Not many of us are capable of living a righteous life without good friends to help remind us of our commitments.

Prayer

“Lord, I love You. But sometimes I do a lousy job of showing it. Forgive my inattentiveness to the life You died to give me. Help me become who You created me to be. And thanks for good friends who help me live the life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”