If you've done much reading on my sidebar, then you know that I enjoy raising ducks. Don't ask me why, I just do. I suppose there's just something about it that appeals to me. Anyway, after having ducks for a little more than a year now, I've noticed some very interesting similarities between us Christians and these feathery creatures.

First of all, ducks are completely defenseless to predators. The only hope they have of escaping the claws of a hungry raccoon is to fly away (which most domestic breeds can't even do). They have no teeth, so they can't bite; they have no claws, so they can't scratch. They are totally helpless.

Second of all, they know only one voice: the voice of their master: the one who feeds them, takes care of them, etc. My mom has actually whistled at my ducks the same way that I do, and they won't even lift their heads. But if I whistle, they go into a frenzy thinking it's time for dinner. Whether it's time to eat or not, when I call, they respond.

Do you see what I'm getting at? As Christians, we are completely defenseless against the devil apart from Christ. The only protection we have is found in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8). Furthermore, true Christians respond only to the voice of their master. The Lord even said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:27) When the devil tries to deceive us, we should be able to know immediately that it is not the Master speaking, and discard everything he says. He may appear as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14), and even disguise his voice to sound like the Lord's, but a Holy Ghost filled Christian should still be able to discern which voice is that the of the good Shepherd (John 10:14).