From The Pastor's Desk
Apr 15, 12:39 AM
Posted In: Church Wide
In our Daily Bread devotional for April 28, there is a story that I had never heard. It
seems the allied forces of WW II were in a training exercise preparing for the Normandy
invasion. Suddenly a German gunboat appeared as the allied forces were in this
amphibious training exercise. Over 700 Americans were killed in that attack. The soldiers
thought they were in a training exercise but in reality they were attacked by the enemy
when they least expected it. Like those soldiers at Slapton Sands, the enemy comes at us
many times when we least expect it. Peter and the disciples, who betrayed Jesus and fled
the garden, were caught unprepared for the attack of the enemy.
Peter was blindsided by the girl as he stood by the fire warming himself and listening,
hoping to get a word about Jesus’ arrest. Sometimes we are attacked while we are in
training and preparation.
Sometimes I laugh when I think of the most heated debates I have ever heard were among
Christians over spiritual matters in the Bible. That energy could be directed toward the
needs of people and not at each other. The devil is a sly and deceitful enemy. Peter
understood this and these verses are found in the small letter that bears his name.
1 Peter 5:8-10” 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind
of sufferings.10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm
and steadfast.
There is a monument commemorating the loss of life of those 700 men there at
Slapton Sands. The enemy is real and is seeking to defeat we who are followers of the
resurrected Lord. Remember one of the hardest weeks of the year is just after Christmas
the birthday celebration of Jesus, and Easter Sunday, the resurrection day of our Lord.
Don’t be caught by surprise this week.Pastor Jerry
