Don’t kill. Don’t steal. Don’t destroy.

Yesterday I woke up at 10:10am and automatically thought about John 10:10. This triggered me to think about a post I wrote two years ago dealing with this very verse. It went as follows: 

John 10:10 tells us the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We have the CHOICE to ALLOW him to steal our joy, peace, or the strength we have left, kill the visions and dreams God has given us, kill our ability to encourage ourselves, or destroy our very being. Today I claim we will NOT succumb to the plans of the devil but to that of the Lord! That same verse tells us the Lord has come so we may have life and may have it more abundantly so no matter what is goin on right now, put on the full armor of 

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God and walk in the joy, peace, strength, dreams, insight that is already yours through Christ Jesus! Take advantage of your covenant benefits and CHOOSE life abundant in things of God!

I wanted these words to hit me and encourage me but today they didn’t speak to me like they normally do. I found myself telling myself ‘Mel, 

John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

you better make sure you are not doing the devil’s job for him’. Then I thought ‘oh shoot I may be doing the killing and stealing’. Let me explain, I have the ability, like most people, to catch an attitude quick. Although most times it has a trigger, that doesn’t matter when it comes down to it, especially when it causes me to lash out on others through sarcasm, simply ignoring, or presenting with apathy.  Most times I automatically see how it affects some people. They either return the attitude, increase the attitude they already had, appear hurt, or they can ignore it and keep going. Point is, I have used what is going on in my life and projected it on to someone else, in turn causing them to feel like the peace or joy they felt moments prior has been threatened or even stolen.

One might say that someone shouldn’t be affected that easily but if my attitude can cause someone else to be put in a bad mood or feel down, I have stolen something. The thief comes to steal. I’m not saying I’m the devil but it is very possible my actions have worked in his favor. Even if I was triggered I am only elongating the train by triggering someone else to react in the same manner and it just keeps going until someone is strong enough to stop it. That is not God.

My attitude is just a quick example but think about how many times people kill and destroy others images, reputations, and empires through gossip and slander. Think about the negative statements people share towards one another to kill their dreams or even self-esteem. Or think about the messages we pass on to younger generations through our actions that put them in positions to mimic us and kill their own future.

As I wrote this post I so wanted to defend myself with excuses as to why I catch attitudes and why I have even ‘stolen’ on this day. We like to point the finger, but from this day forward I am going to pay more attention to even my small actions and how they may affect others. It doesn’t mean walking on eggshells but it does mean thinking twice before speaking and acting. Have you stolen, killed, or destroyed today? Let’s not do the enemies dirty work for him…Don’t kill. Don’t steal. Don’t destroy. 

Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 

Don’t forget

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