robbed blind?
"The evil one approaches him to steal away what was sown in his mind." —Matthew 13:19
How much of God's Word have you heard over the years at home, in church and school, through reading and teaching? How much of God's Word do you know and live? The difference in the answer to these two questions shows us how much of the Word the evil one has robbed from us. Many of us have been exposed to God's Word for years but have little to show for it. The devil has literally robbed us blind. We don't even report it to the authorities or call for help. We merely resign ourselves to Satan daily robbing us of the Word of life.
God's Word tells us: "Submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight" (Jas 4:7). We can rob the robber and retrieve all that the devil has stolen (see Lk 11:22). We do this by faith in Jesus Christ, expressed in prayer and obedience. The Holy Spirit will enable us to remember passages from God's Word we haven't recalled for years. We will apply the Word so as to be holy in every aspect of our lives (1 Pt 1:15).
Jesus knows how to prevent the devil's thievery. Report any theft to Jesus, the Authority. We need Jesus to deliver us from the evil one (Mt 6:13). Jesus will not only sow the seed, but guard it.
Prayer: Jesus, I've been robbed several thousand times. Please recover the stolen goods.
Promise: "Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you." —Ex 20:12
Praise: The names of Saints Joachim & Ann mean "the Lord raises up" and "grace." Mary, Joachim, and Ann, pray for us to adore and love Jesus as you did.
Reference: (To help others to retrieve God's Word, be a Bible teacher. For encouragement, order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 18, 2013
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