J44 The devil made me do it...

-- Apologies to Flip Wilson (1)

Mattthew 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander."

Jerome (d. 420 AD) "...those who believe that evil thoughts are introduced by the devil and do not originate from our own will are to be repudiated. The devil can aid and abet evil thoughts but he can not originate them...we must not hold the opinion that the devil can probe the depths of our heart. However, he can judge from our actions what we are thinking about." [Commentary on Matthew 2.15.19]. (2)

Reflection: Satan would like us to believe he is the same as God. He is, obviously, NOT. He is the tempter, the deceiver, the father of lies...but he is just a fallen angel, although more powerful than his minions.

We've all seen the popular imagery of an angel sitting on one shoulder, whispering good intentions in our ear, with a devil on the other shoulder. That image is not a bad representation of reality.

Ideas, desires, emotions -- they aren't planted by angels, neither Guardian type or fallen.

Only God in His Trinitarian form knows my heart. But anyone, human or angel, can deduce my heart from what I say or do. Once a wrong thought has emerged, it is surely nurtured, watered, fertilized, and groomed by the enemy.

My prayer today:

Gracious Lord, how sweet is your promise to write your Word on my heart, to give me a pure heart, to change me. A hundred verses assure me of this truth. But until I am a finished work, please do not stop sanctifying me, washing me daily in the power of your Word, chastising me. If I want to be gold, and I do, then let me embrace the refiner's fire. It does not burn anything that is good. I want you to be the cultivator of my heart until it is free of the weeds. Thank you for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear. Help me give no signals to the watching ones that your work in my heart is not yet finished.

4/1/2020

(1) Citation unavailable, possibly "Laugh-In," circa 1968.

(2) Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, New Testament Ib, Manlio Simonetti, Ed. IVP 2001.