Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. [1 Peter 5:8-9]
"Screwtape Again"
Screwtape felt pretty happy with himself. He was one of the top
devils in Hades because he was so good at fooling Christians into committing
sin. So when the assignment to disrupt one of the most Christian families on
their hit list came from the top man of all the devils, well he felt very
pleased. He immediately called his nephew devil, Wormwood to tackle the
assignment.
“Wormwood.” Screwtape said looking at his pointy
tail and red horns, the pride and joy of any good devil. “We have a big
job to do. The Smiths are devoted followers of Jesus. The dad and mom make sure
they are in church every Sunday. The little boy, Christopher sings in the youth
choir and the older daughter, Stephanie is planning on doing missions work
after high school. The top man of all devils has assigned us to ruin this
family.” He said pacing back in forth in front of a blackboard like it
were a military exercise. Screwtape never wrote on the blackboard but he
thought it looked cool.
“The top man of all devils? Who is
that?’ Wormwood asked because he was a little slow sometimes.
“Satan, you goof!.” Screwtape finally told him clearly frustrated
with his nephew. “Now you know what will work. Split them apart. Use
anger, jealousy, hurtful remarks, rumors, irritations. I will clue you as you
go so get up there, they are getting ready to have family devotions. This is a
good time to get in the way.”
“Yes sir!” Wormwood said
saluting and hurting his hand on his own devil’s horns and off he took.
“Mom, are we about ready for devotions?” Christopher said to
his mom walking into the kitchen. He was excited because tonight was his turn
to pick the scripture to read.
Wormwood arrived just in time. He
whispered in Christopher’s mom’s ear.
“Just slow down
young man. You don’t set the pace around here, dad and I do. We will have
devotions when we are good and ready.” The mom snapped at her son and as
soon as she did, she was alarmed at what she said. She ran to Christopher and
hugged him. “I’m sorry sweetie. I don’t know what got into
me.”
“Excellent Wormwood.” Screwtape said to his
nephew, “That is just what we want, pour it on now.”
Stephanie entered the living room where Christopher was reading his Bible,
looking for a good passage. While she could not see or feel him, instantly
Wormwood was at her side whispering in her ear.
“You think you
are so cool with all your Bible reading.” She hissed at her brother who
she loved so much. Stephanie couldn’t believe these words were even coming
out of her mouth. “Well let me tell you something. All the kids at church
think you are a phony and they hate you.”
“MOM”
Christopher’s cries went up like a fire alarm. Dad came running from the
back room. Zeke the dog started barking, the cats ran for cover and mom was
trying to out shout the two children to find out what happened. Somewhere
Screwtape was smiling and muttering, “Family devotions is looking pretty
unlikely tonight.” Wormwood was on the move all over that house.
“You kids are driving me crazy.” Daddy shouted. “I would be
ashamed to be seen in public with this bunch of animals.” Daddy
immediately slapped his hand over his mouth. “Where did that come
from?” He muttered.
“You have always been jealous of
me!” Christopher screamed at his sister feeling like someone else had
taken him over entirely. “It’s because I am the youngest and you want
all of mom and dads attention.” He shouted and then he began to cry and he
ran to his sister and hugged her. Even though she was furious, she hugged him
because her love of family was stronger than whatever this is that is attacking
them.
Suddenly, Christopher and Stephanie’s Daddy’s face
changed and everyone knew that he knew something. “OK HOLD IT!” He
shouted.
It was that voice of authority that nobody anywhere would
dispute. Even Wormwood, in the spiritual realm and unseen by the family, froze
in his tracks at the commanding authority of the spiritual head of this
household. “Everybody, let’s sit down.” Daddy instructed. Mom
was so glad to hear his tone because she felt that the Holy Spirit was using
him to fix whatever was wrong.
“The enemy is attacking us to stop
us from having our devotions. Let’s sing.” And he began to sing,
“Jesus loves me, this I know…” Soon the whole family was
singing.
“OW OW OW OW OW” Wormwood held his head and writhed
in agony crying out for help. “Uncle Screwtape, I can’t endure the
songs of praise to Jesus. Help me!!!”
“Abort, abort! Get
yourself out of there.” Screwtape instructed his nephew and in seconds,
Wormwood was gone. As the Smiths embraced, loved each other and Jesus and
apologized for all that was said, Screwtape and Wormwood cowered in Hades.
“They did it again, Uncle Screwtape. They defeated us with the
name of Jesus and by singing God’s praise.” Wormword said sounding
very unhappy.
“I know.” Said the crafty devil Screwtape.
“But we will let them alone for a while and attack again. They will have
to stay close to Jesus to avoid our attacks. Just wait, Wormwood, just
wait.”
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. [James 4:7-8]
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