John 10:10 (ESV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I
came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
I came across a powerful parable written by a Haitian
pastor illustrating to his congregation the need for total commitment to the
Lord.
A certain man wanted to sell his house for two thousand
dollars. Another man wanted very badly to buy it but couldn't afford the full
price the owner was asking. After much bargaining, however, he agreed to sell
the house to the poor man for half the original price -- along with just one
stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just
over the door.
After several years, the original owner wanted the house
back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out,
found the carcass of a dead dog and hung it from the single nail he still
owned. Soon the house became unlivable and the family was forced to sell the
house to the owner of the nail.
The Haitian pastor concluded that "If we leave the
Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting
garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation."
The devil has only come to steal, kill and destroy. He can
be very crafty and he would love nothing more than to steal from us our very
inhabitance in the Lord. Let's ask the Lord to reveal any pegs we may be
leaving for the devil today and take back all that belongs to us -- for this
truly is the season of repentance!
Dear Lord, help us to not give Satan even one nail in our
life. Help us to look to You to help us clean out our house for You. In the Name
of Jesus, Amen.
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