Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27
‘Don’t feed it!’ Mother warned as the dusty, shaggy dog sat in the corner of the back yard and looked hungrily toward the house. But he looked so hungry that we sneaked a few table scraps and some bones out to him. He was so grateful that he kept coming back, every day, for more, and we set a dish for him on the back step, filling it daily. ‘Don’t let it in! Mother warned as the cold, rainy wind blasted the dog when he came to feed one stormy night. But he looked so miserable that we allowed him to come inside and lie on the doormat, just for that one night. He liked it, and begged successfully to come in the next night, and the next. ‘Don’t let it out of the kitchen!’ Mother warned as the dog wandered off the mat. But the dog slowly extended his range until after a week or two he had the run of the entire house. The dog was a lazy brute, albeit friendly, and he had a good appetite. But I suppose it didn’t do us any real harm to give him a place at our house, unlike what happens if we give place to the devil.
Now, the devil doesn’t come up and invite himself into our houses or our lives or our fellowship. No, he’s much too sneaky for that, and besides, he has lots of allies to do the dirty work. The devil’s goal is to destroy our fellowship with God and to negate any worship and service we might have for the Lord. So he brings along new toys, or friends, or activities, to take away the time we need to spend in Bible study, prayer, Assembly meetings, and so forth. He will bring us into contact with profane people whose vile language will pollute our minds. He will use money and power and popularity to turn our attention to ourselves instead of the will of God. So we need to be careful that we do not give him any place in our lives, neither he nor his sneaky agents.
Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians comes in the context of his warnings against the sins of lying, uncontrolled anger, and stealing. It goes without saying that these sins should not mark the life of any believer. A Christian who lies, rages, or steals is definitely giving place to the devil. These public sins are in harmony with the devil’s evil nature, and will destroy a Christian’s testimony before the world and in the Assembly. The father of lies loves it when we lie. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that sin has many tools, and a lie is a handle that fits them all. How can we represent the God Who cannot lie when we lie? How can we display the character of the meek and lowly Jesus when we lose our tempers? How can we be trusted with the Lord’s talents when we steal the things of others?
We will not give place to the devil if we give ourselves wholly into our Lord’s hands. -Jim MacIntosh