Pippin and Mr. Magpie
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil " - Ephesians 6:11
So, the other day, I was minding my own business when I heard a huge ruckus coming from my backyard. My dog, Pippin, and a magpie were having a wild time barking and chattering at each other. Mr. Magpie, who was safely perched on the fence, was looking down on my dog. Pippin thought the magpie was hilarious. But guess what? I later found out that magpies are known for being super clever, and this particular magpie had a different plan. It wasn’t about having fun; it was about getting closer to the house and the dog bowl. What looked like entertainment was actually a sneaky way to achieve its goal. This big, beautiful bird has decided that our backyard is his personal playground, and he is coming back every day to claim it as his own. Another thing I discovered is that magpies pull dogs’ tails. I’m not certain if that’s what happened, but a few minutes later, I returned and found Pippin on the other side of the yard, while Mr. Magpie had found a perch in the middle of the yard.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we live our lives for God, we need to be careful. We have an enemy who’s always trying to trick us and turn us away from the Lord. Don’t mess around with evil, no matter how fun and harmless it may seem. If we don’t protect ourselves, we might end up on the sidelines while sin and Satan take center control of our lives. The Word of God tells us exactly what we need to do, and that’s found in the rest of Ephesians 6. By putting on the whole armor of God, we’re protected. Take a moment to look at the chapter in Ephesians and maybe even memorize it. Read it and get to know what your defense against the evil of this world is. Don’t let your guard down! It might not be your tail that gets pulled, but the devil would love to “pull your leg.”
May this mashup of “See a Victory” and “What a Beautiful Name” serve as a rallying cry against the darkness and evil that threatens you and your loved ones.
