Refusal to Play The Game
by Donavon L Riley

Brothers and sisters, the enemy crouches at the edge of your life, like a wolf waiting for a moment of weakness. He’s sly, patient, relentless. He waits for you to flinch, to lose sight of yourself, and then he strikes—not with violence, but with a whisper. He points out your neighbor’s flaws, magnifies them, and tries to turn your heart cold. But listen—don’t let his lies settle in your chest. When he plants the seed of judgment, rip it out by the roots. Replace it with something better. Think of the good you know in that person, or if you can’t find it, remind yourself that everyone is someone for whom Christ died.

If the urge to judge still gnaws at you, remember this: You have no right to sit in that high chair of judgment. The moment you do, you’ve already failed, inviting judgment down on yourself. Not from men, but from God Himself, the one Judge who sees everything. Turn your thoughts back to the Ancient Good. He’s your shield, your only defense against the snare.

This turning of thoughts, this refusal to play the game, is your strongest weapon. God doesn’t just stop the first attack—he untangles you from the whole mess, sets you free from the traps of bitterness and judgment.

But let’s not stop there. There’s another layer to this. You must carry, like a stone in your pocket, the memory of your own malignant heart. Don’t run from it, don’t hide it away—keep it close. Your own unclean desires, your own stumblings—they are your real teachers. Look closely at them, and you’ll find there’s enough work to be done in your own body, mind, and soul to last a lifetime.

When you haven’t already thrown your hands up in surrender, when you haven’t resigned yourself to the sickness, then you’re already in the thick of the battle. And in this fight, you don’t have time to worry about others. Let those words set anchorage in your mind every time you’re tempted to cast judgment: “Physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23). “First cast out the beam from your own eye” (Matthew 7:5). You’ve got enough of your own work to do, brethren. Let the world be. Turn inward, where the real war is raging, entrust yourself to God, and leave the rest to Him also.

By Donovan Riley

Donavon Riley is a Lutheran pastor, conference speaker, author, and contributing writer for 1517. He is also a co-host of Banned Books and Warrior Priest podcasts. He is the author of the book, "Crucifying Religion” and “The Withertongue Emails.” He is also a contributing author to "The Sinner/Saint Devotional: 60 Days in the Psalms" and "Theology of the Cross".

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