...keep it straight...

The Apostles Preach in Cyprus

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord” Acts 13:4-12.

In page after page after page, the bible is filled with the most profound advice from God that I have ever imagined or heard. Today is no exception, for we learn in just a few words some of the most amazing advice to live by: “…stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord” Acts 13:10! 

I could write a book about all of the times I built curves and detours in the straight paths the Lord laid out for me. All were stupid; most were sinful!

I believe Satan works hard in all of our lives every single day trying to convince us to step off the path, the road that the Lord has built for us to follow. Dear friends, this is one of the truest and most convincing reasons why daily prayer is so essential. As soon as we back off praying daily, we weaken ourselves and fall susceptible to the temptations of Satan. When we sin, we have no one to blame but ourselves. but when we pray and follow Christ, we have no one to thank except God!

Take time to pray today!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.