Sheep Stew, By Hook or By Crook

Psa 140:4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Psa 140:5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
Psa 140:8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

The Lord often likens us to sheep. Many animals are extremely aware of their surroundings, always on the lookout for danger. Domesticated sheep however, tend to have their heads buried in the tall grass, gorging themselves with no cares as to what predators lurk in hopes of a mutton meal.

The sad reality is that mutton is a favorite meal of the predator, it is abundant, tasty and oh so easy to attain.

The Devil, Peter tells us, is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And believe me, he had you in his sights. By hook or by crook, literally, he's out to make sheep stew out of you!

Snares, cords, nets and gins (hooks). Such is the arsenal from which he chooses to trap, slaughter, stew and devour you.

But the Lord, who watches over us with great care as we feed in His pastures, warns us to be sober and ever vigilant, and to not be ignorant of his devices against us.

As we go through this day, though we try to be happy-go-lucky, remember that the enemy has his sights on you. Beware of the traps, stay close to the Savior. Stand strong against wiles of the evil one.