some people and their pet devils

Surely by now you have come to know some people that you cannot carry on an adult conversation with.  Their thoughts and ideas are not rational, they make absolutely no sense.  They remind me of an old cliché.
 
It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let them think you’re an idiot than to open your mouth and erase all doubt.
 
The odd thing about all of this is that these people otherwise are quite smart and some of them are highly educated.  What is the root of the problem?  Why can’t we communicate with some of these folks?
 
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness.
 
People can be profoundly affected by the devil and not be possessed.  The devil cannot read our minds, but he can and does offer us his thoughts and concepts.  The Word of God instructs us to cast these “imaginations” down because they do not belong to a sound mind.  The devil’s thoughts always appear just and productive but he doesn’t have any measure of love within him.  People who are directly influenced by the devil are very difficult to persuade of any truth.
 
John 8:43,45 Why do you not understand My Words? You cannot even hear Me.  And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not.
 
Jesus was speaking to the most religious people of the time, the Jews.  Even when He spoke in parables, they could not relate to what He was saying but they could easily hear the devil.  The devil is very easy to hear because he speaks the most.  Jesus speaks when He needs to and He can speak volumes with very few words.  Our Lord can impart one word to us and that word can change our lives forever.  Jesus was full of wisdom and love. He spoke whatsoever the Father gave Him to say.  Despite His supernatural power, He could not persuade men to embrace the truth.  Why?  Because He gave each man the freedom to choose the life he desired for himself.  God has set before every man blessing or curse, life or death.  He then encourages every one to choose life.
 
2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will forgive them when they acknowledge the truth.
 
When we confront people who are under the influence of demonic powers, we have only one recourse.  We must gently speak the truth just as Jesus did, we can’t make them accept it but we can certainly offer it.  The truth is their only hope, the only way for freedom.  Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world.  Many are content to be ruled by the lesser power.  Blessed is the man that abides in the truth but woe to the man who chooses to never accept what God offers.  God is merciful and gentle because He knows man must contend with the devil but mercy cannot save him if he will not cooperate with God.  We must tolerate all men but not their pet devils.  It’s like people who have cats, love the people dislike the cats.