Be Watchful Satan Wants to Devour You!

SATAN IS DECEPTIVE

The only way that Satan can turn people against our loving God, Jehovah is by deceiving them. (1 John 4:8)  Satan deceives people so that they are not "conscious of their spiritual need," that is, they do not realize that they need a relationship with God. (Matthew 5:3) The Devil has "blinded the minds of the unbelievers" so that they cannot see the truth about Jehovah. -2 Corinthians 4:3. 

One of Satan's greatest ways of deceiving people is through false religion.  He knows that Jehovah  "requires exclusive devotion." (Exodus 20:5) So imagine how pleased Satan is when he see people worship their ancestors or nature or animals, that is, anyone or anything other than Jehovah. Sadly, even many who think that their worship is acceptable to God are actually controlled by false beliefs and useless rituals. Israelites in Isaiah's day were in a similar situation. Jehovah asked them:   "Why do you keep paying out money for what is not bread, and why spend your earnings for what brings no satisfaction?  Listen intently to me, and eat what is good,m and you will find great delight in what is truly rich." -Isaiah 55:2. 

Satan can fool even zealous servants of Jehovah. For example, think about what happened when Jesus told his disciples that he would soon be killed.  The apostle Peter, who loved Jesus, said:  "Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this happen to you are all."  Jesus told Peter: "Get behind me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:22,23)  Why did Jesus call Peter  "Satan"?  Because Jesus knew what was about to happen. Soon, Jesus would die as a  ransom sacrifice and would prove that the Devil is a liar. This was a critical time in human history and not the time for Jesus to "be kind" to himself. Satan would have loved if Jesus had stopped being watchful. 

Next time: Be Watchful Satan Wants to Devour You! -Conclusion of SATAN IS DECEPTIVE

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015