According to Greek mythology, Cadmus came upon a terrible dragon that blocked his path. After battling and killing the dragon, he pulled out all its teeth and buried them in a field. Later, traveling back that same way, he was shocked to discover that each tooth had transformed itself into an armed giant! How could he possibly overcome these savage giants and pass through? Suddenly, a plan! Hiding behind a tree, Cadmus threw a stone -- striking one of the giants. The giant, thinking one of the others had struck him, retaliated by hitting one of his fellow giants. Battle lines were drawn, the giants chose sides, the fight escalated, all were drawn into a bloody free-for-all. Soon, all lie dead or dying. Cadmus was then able to pass through the pitiful, fallen creatures with no danger of being attacked. As we all know, Greek mythology is just that, myth. Stories like this, however, do give great lessons that can be learned.

The Bible tells us that Satan wants to walk through us as a "destroyer." "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:10). When we draw near to God and remain united as his people, the Devil is frustrated in his evil plan. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). God takes ordinary men and women and makes great giants of them. However, when giants fight, we become weak and vulnerable; we behave like mere men. "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3). When we behave in such a manner, Satan takes the day, and the battle belongs to him.

As Christians, there should be no divisions among us. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). As Christians, we are to bear one another's burden. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1,2). As Christians, we are to love one another. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (1 John 4:7).

The greatest enemy to the church is Satan and if he can gain a few more people who would fight against each other, a few more who would backbite and argue, they are fighting his battle for him. We, like the giants in the story, will be destroyed! Christians, stand tall! Christians, stand together! Christians, stand with the Lord!

If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians -- they are my best workers.

Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.

Blessed are the troublemakers -- they shall be called my children.

Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.

Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.

Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.

Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.

Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.

Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other people and not you -- I've got you too!

Now, read Matt. 5-6-7!