Are you torn between two lovers?

Originally Posted by Malvaro

Catchy thread title, isn't it?

I've been sitting at my desk and systems having been going on and off-line throughout the day.... during one of the 8-9 outages, I got bored and this thought came to my mind as I glanced at one of the Yahoo feature articles.

So here was the simple Valentine devotional that came to my mind....

Are you torn between two lovers?

• We have two that fight for our affections:
  God loves us with a unconditional love, and desires to have a relationship with us (1 John 4:17-19)
  Satan loves to control & manipulate us, and only desires our subjection to him (John 12:39-40)
• How do these two express their feelings toward us?
  God showed His love for us by giving the greatest sacrifice, His life on Calvaray (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8)
  Satan shows his hidden contempt for us by seeking to "steal" us through blind allegiance (2 Cor 4:3-4, John 10:10-11)
• How do these two show their dependability?
  God will never leave or forsake you (Proverbs 18:24, Hebrews 13:5-6)
  Satan will leave anytime you stand against him in disagreement (James 4:7)
• What kind of lovers are they?
  God is a gentleman who respects your choice of freedom (Romans 8:1-2, Rev 3:20)
  Satan is possessive of every part of your life (Mark 5:1-9, 2 Tim 2:25-26, Galatians 4:3)
• How do you know which lover you are falling for?
  you know love God, when you spend time with Him and obey his Word (John 14:15)
  you know love Satan, when you just do what you want and live like this world (Prov 12:15, Prov 21:1-2)

Matthew 6:23-25
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Are you torn between two lovers?

Excellent post. There is one part of it with which I very strongly disagree but otherwise it's an excellent outline for what could potentially be a very powerful message.