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Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say…?” -- Genesis 3:1 One of Satan’s favorite strategies is to try to make you and me doubt God’s word. And this is exactly the tack he took with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Remember the story? Satan told Eve, "God knows if you take of this fruit and you eat, you will be as God. God's holding out on you, Eve. He says He loves you, but he’s really jealous. Take and eat, enjoy, fulfill yourself and you'll be happy!" Can you see how Satan distorted and twisted what God told Eve and caused her to doubt the love of God. And that’s what he does with us today. He comes to us with half truths and innuendoes and tries to plant questions in our mind concerning God. He especially likes to do this when we’re facing trials and struggles. He comes when you’re weak and says, "Does God really care about you?" That’s because if he can get you to doubt God’s word and love, then it’s a slippery slope into the sin of unbelief. This is exactly how sin entered the human race through Adam and Eve. Don’t be deceived by the enemy. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). DON’T BE DECEIVED BY THE ENEMY! Motivated to Action by Dr. Paul Chappell “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:32–34 According to the latest statistics, the world’s population is rapidly approaching eight billion people. Never before have so many been alive on earth at one time. Though the typical lifespan varies greatly from country to country, on average a person born today will live about sixty-seven years. At the end of each life, whether long or short, lies eternity. Though many teach other concepts, the Bible makes it clear that there are only two destinations for that eternity—Heaven or Hell. The fact that billions of people have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel should motivate us to actively work and support missionary efforts, both around the globe and across the street from where we live. Paul told the church at Corinth the fact that the lost have not yet been reached should bring shame to them. Charles Spurgeon said, “If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is in the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.” The primary mission of the church and of each Christian is to fulfill the command to reach the lost. This was the heartbeat of Jesus throughout His life and ministry and it should be ours as well. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).   Today’s Growth Principle:  We cannot say we are truly like Jesus if we are not burdened to action by the fate of a lost and dying world.