2 CORINTHIANS 2:11 – So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
THEME OF THE DAY. A CHIEF TACTIC OF SPIRITUAL ENEMIES. Christians are a warring people, not in a worldly violent way, but in the context of seeing life as it really is and engaging life as it really is – a place of constant spiritual conflict demanding of us “soldier-readiness” all the time. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:10-13).
When it comes to this spiritual conflict, our foes are powerful, subtle, and never ceasing in their attacks upon us. They consist of the world, the flesh, and the devil and are committed to our destruction. Even though they cannot remove us from Christ’s kingdom, they can wreak havoc and cause significant spiritual damage in our lives. And there is one tactic which is so effective and leaving many Christians slain on the spiritual battlefield in this cosmic conflict. It is ignorance of Satan’s designs or methods of attack.
In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul is telling the Corinthian church the devil is extremely crafty and effective in hiding his ways of attack. So effective that even God’s people may be ignorant of them. The result of being ignorant of the devil’s tactics is severe. It will shipwreck a Christian’s testimony. It will rob joy from the Christian’s heart. And it will make the Christian become worldly and bring great dishonor to the Lord who bought them.
So, how do we not remain ignorant of the devil’s weaponry against us? Time or space doesn’t allow us a thorough look at this so let’s identify the most important thing we can do to be “battle ready” every day against our spiritual enemy. It isn’t hard, but it will require mental discipline. I alluded to it in the opening sentence. If we are going to live the Christian life as God intended and provided for through the Lord Jesus; if we are going to consistently defeat the devil, the world, and the flesh, it all begins with a proper understanding of life in this world. Friends, God has ordained, for a season, that the devil is the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). No, he doesn’t have omnipotent power. God has him on a “divine leash” but he is still powerful and influencing the world. Unless we understand the world is in chaos, confusion, and a scary place because the devil is loose, we are missing what life is really all about. We will enter the arena of public debate only on a horizontal plane and end up seeing the problem is man, society, government, lack of education, flawed parenting, and a host of other “humanistic issues.” Beloved, the problem is not human, but an evil devil. Granted, the problem in all things comes from human sin but it was the devil who brought the temptation to our first parents leading to sin.
The only proper way to interpret all of life is spiritually. And that means seeing the world as it is, not physical, but in a state of spiritual unrest and conflict. If we don’t start there, and stay there, then we will be Christians losing our salt and light in a decaying and dark world. Let’s learn to renew our minds and see life right and then live life right as soldiers of Jesus Christ engaging a world in conflict with the liberating and victorious message of His Gospel (2 Timothy 2:1-7).
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for giving me Your Son as not only my Redeemer, but King, Priest, and Prophet.”
QUOTE: “To be in willful submission to the Lordship of Christ is the best and safest place to be in all the world”