I Got Scammed!!

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:8-9

On Tuesday during our staff meeting I began to get a number of text messages from family and friends who mentioned that they thought I was scammed.

A text message went out that read: Good Morning _______ This is Pastor Ted Esaki. I urgently need a favor from you, kindly reply to my text as soon as possible. Another text went out saying that I was requesting people to buy gift certificates on ebay on my behalf. Both texts ended with either “God Bless” or “In Christ”

The number of people who are getting scammed today is on the rise. Not just the elderly but people of all ages. Scams come in all shapes and sizes. Some scams appeal to the good will and sympathy of others, while some scams prey on those seeking to get rich quickly.

All of us are susceptible to scams. There are evil people in the world whose intent is to destroy lives. The Bible says in I Peter 5 8-9; 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Satan is always stalking us to look for ways that he can destroy us. His aim is to destroy lives and relationships.

Thought For Today: How do we avoid the scams of Satan? Peter reminds us to stand firm in our faith. To Resist him. Romans 10:17 reminds us that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Stand firm today and spend time reading your bible.

Today’s Prayer Focus: Pray that God would bind the work of our enemy, Satan, from anything he would do to destroy your life and the life of our church family. Deo Volente.