Lesson from the Louvre

A few months ago, the world learned of the brazen burglary of extremely valuable treasure from France’s renowned museum, The Louvre. Incredibly, the thieves committed their crime in less than seven minutes in broad daylight while the museum was open. In evaluating how such an audacious act could occur, it was revealed that museum management made strategic choices to prioritize visible operations over security. Tasked with overseeing priceless gems, famed masterpieces and artifacts of consequential significance, they opted for publicity over protection.

I, and probably you as well, have felt the sting of disappointment when a well admired Christian leader’s walk was found to not match his/her talk. Such robberies of moral character can occur when people decide outward actions trump inward attitudes. Publicity over protection.

The looting of the Louvre wasn’t due to a huge obvious breach; it was theft by a thousand cuts - small subtle snips to security seriousness. Catastrophic falls happen not because of a major decision to open the door for the Devil; they creep up on us by little seemingly insignificant choices to overlook red flags, ignore warnings, blow through stop signs, and smother the pricks and proddings of the conscience. Though they often debut publicly overnight, they have been incubating privately for a long time.

You and I have an enemy of our soul who seeks to rob us of the crown jewels of our integrity, our ministry, our legacy, and even our family. In Proverbs 4:3, Solomon (who ironically didn’t take his own advice) cautions us to build a buttress around our heart, the site of decision making. While Satan may not steal the treasure of our eternal security, he can certainly pilfer and plunder our plans and purposes to further God’s kingdom on earth. Above all else, guard your heart.

Lord, help me to safeguard my soul from the thousand little choices that pull me away from your plan for my life. Give me wisdom to make decisions that bolster my desire to follow you. Help me to opt to steer clear of any path that takes me farther from you.

Throughout this Day: Listen to “Slow Fade” by Casting Crowns and ask God to point out any area where you are making small choices that are leaving you vulnerable to Satan’s attack.