Everyone wants to be heard, to have a voice, and to share a personal viewpoint.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

But there’s an enemy among us, going door to door, banging his fists on the walls, and shouting lies. This enemy will tell you the guy upstairs said THIS about you, or the woman in the next apartment has told the entire floor THAT about you.

When none of it is true.

This enemy wants you all riled up. He wants you to set your sights on your neighbor. He wants you to storm out of your apartment in anger, ready to blast that guy across the hall.

You see, Satan is the enemy of our souls, and he’s all about taking us down – every single one of us living in this apartment building known as planet Earth.

Satan wants nothing more than to hurt God, but since he can’t do it directly, he’s going after God’s children. Distractions, discouragement, and anger are some of the weapons in his arsenal. If the enemy can plant explosive words between us, we all lose when they explode.

Anger is ugly, it’s messy, and it ruins lives.

Where are all the peacemakers, living as children of light? What happened to “Love your neighbor as yourself”? And why, if you want your voice to be heard, does it not declare, “Prepare yourself for the Lord,” who is coming back?

Try using what you have to notify the apartment building of His return:

Post signs at the front door. Slip notes under your neighbors’ doors. Shout it from the rooftop.

Show the love of Jesus to everyone you meet:

Hug them in the hallway. Forgive them if their music is too loud. Share with those who don’t have enough for breakfast.

Instead of stomping through darkened hallways demanding to be heard, why not stand on the balcony and speak to those who are trying to escape the madness, ugliness, and anger?

Satan wants you sidetracked in your apartment with hatred on your lips and vengeance in your heart, replaying his lies over and over in your mind.

God wants you standing with purpose on your balcony, His glorious presence shining through you with a message of hope coming from a heart born to love others into His Kingdom.

So do it. Love others into God’s Kingdom, and stop allowing Satan’s lies to dictate your life.

Live a life worthy of the Kingdom. Keep your heart ready for Jesus Christ, who’s coming back for those who declare and believe Jesus is Lord. And stand together with your brothers and sisters in Christ to love the lost, hurting souls who are trying to make sense out of this chaotic, noisy world.

Love them right into the arms of Jesus.

“See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 WEB.)

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