I remember watching cartoons on Saturday mornings when I was growing up. Often, when a character had to make a moral decision, the scene would show the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. They would talk into the character’s ear, back and forth, stating their position. The character would appear stressed as they tried to determine which way to go: the way of the devil with instant reward or the way of the angel, which required patience.
Scripture holds the answer to the question – “Which way to go?” James writes:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. —James 4:7-8, NIV
Throughout my life, it seems there has always been a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. They persist to this very day. For example, when I approach some trash on the ground, the angel says, “Pick it up”; the devil responds, “Beware of disease.” If I see a man on a street with a sign asking for money, the angel states, “Give”; the devil bounces back with, “Wait a minute, it’s just a scam.” Or, if I’m in a rush and someone wants to connect, the angel says, “Connect”; the devil shouts, “You don’t have time for this!” I could go on and on.
So, who wins? It all depends on if I submit myself to God or to the darkness entering my soul. And I find the best way to submit to God is to prepare myself to let go and take life as it is given, resting in the peace of our Lord that is beyond our understanding.
About Pastor Bob Lundberg: I joined PHS in 2012 as the Spiritual Director at Castle Ridge where I was until 2021, when I moved to the Bloomington community. Prior to joining PHS, I was an internal auditor for the Metropolitan Council, the manager of government contracts at ADC Telecommunications and an auditor for the Defense Contract Audit Agency. When I’m not keeping busy with PHS, you can find me doing jigsaw puzzles, reading, biking and hiking.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian ministry.
