RESISTING THE DEVIL

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9).

Devotion 9 of 15

SATAN BEGUILES

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Cor 11:3, KJV). "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV).

When an Apostle of Christ expresses fear that the people to whom he preached might be beguiled by the devil, we need to take note. I find this attitude almost totally missing among professed leaders of the people of God. Many of them are so busy reporting their supposed successes, they do not have time to be concerned about people being beguiled by Satan's subtlety.

Notice the area of vulnerability: "the simplicity that is in Christ." "Simplicity" refers to sincerity and purity of devotion. It is devotion that is unmixed with allegiance to the world, and commitment that is not tainted by a love for the world and the things that are in it. It is an aspect of faith. Those in possession of this spiritual faculty rest their case upon divine declaration and commitment. They do not build their confidence on scholarship, scientific interpretation, or expert commentators. Their faith is in Christ, and they depend upon Him to lead them all the way to glory.

Paul relied upon the power of sincere and pure devotion. Often he expressed his confidence that those in possession of the same would be directed by the Lord (2 Cor 8:22; Gal 5:10; 2 Thess 3:4; Phile 21). What he was concerned about was Satan's craftiness in complicating the apprehension of the truth of the Gospel. How successful the old serpent has been in doing precisely this. It is seen in an emphasis on procedures of worship, congregational government, and the obtaining of credentials. Our adversary has led people to seek justification by law, the presence of the Holy Spirit by routine, and the understanding of Scripture by academics. Such have been corrupted "from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus."

Those who resist the devil will withstand any attempt to complicate faith. They will not allow anyone to minimize God's promises as the means to obtaining God's nature. They will not permit any approach to God that allows insincerity and a lack of commitment to remain.

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, grant me grace to be vigilant, that Satan may never gain an advantage over me.

-- TOMORROW: THE TRANSFORMATION OF SATAN --