“Devil’s Detours!”

August 5, 2021

Devil Detours!

We were on our way to a place we had been once before.  It had been a couple of years, but we wanted to return for another visit.

Everything was looking familiar and going fine.  I have a pretty good memory for roads so don’t often use GPS for directions.  However, we saw two things that concerned us; a road construction sign and traffic at a complete stand still.

We watched as some others took what appeared to be a detour.  So we followed in good faith.  It was a mistake!

We wandered around on two lane highways through four or five little towns with countless stop signs for about 45 minutes.  All of that to go about three miles.  My patience was wearing thin.  And, I was the patient one in the car!

The detour was frustrating because it took us off the right path and it wasted a lot of time.

In our spiritual life, Satan can take us on a detour that does the same things; it takes us off the right path and it wastes a lot of time.

When the Apostle Thomas asked Jesus about the way to heaven, Jesus responded, “I am the way…” (John 14:6).  Jesus was reminding Thomas that the spiritual life is a journey and Jesus is the right way on the journey.

However, many who choose to travel along the spiritual journey can be naïve.  They believe there is only one path; a path that is always filled with goodness and grace and generosity.  It is a devastating and disillusioning blow when they discover there are detours that can lead to disappointment and destruction.

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days.  It was a time of preparation and clarification for Jesus’ ministry. 

Although Jesus begins this part of His journey on the path prepared by the Holy Spirit, the Devil comes to lead Jesus on a detour away from the way of our Father in heaven.  In Luke 4 the Devil’s detours are described.

In Luke 4:2-3 we hear; “…for forty days he (Jesus) was tempted by the devil…  ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’”

In Luke 4:5 we hear; “Then the devil led him (Jesus) up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.”

In Luke 4:9 we hear; “Then the devil took him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple…”

The Devil’s detours lead us down a path where injustice and oppression reign…a path where abuse and violence reign…a path where doubt and loneliness reign…a path where pride and envy reign.  The Devil’s detours will take us off of the path that leads to the heart of God and waste a considerable amount of time.

Jesus shows us that there is one path that leads to abundant life now as well as eternal life in heaven.  When the Devil presents Jesus with a detour, Jesus responds; “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” (Luke 4:8)

 The path that leads to life…abundant and eternal…is the path on which Jesus leads us.  When we follow Jesus only and serve Jesus only, our hearts will continue to be filled with delight.  Let’s avoid the Devil’s detours and the regret that comes with them.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug