June 28, Whom He May Devour

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

The devil knows us well. We are transparent to him just as we are to the heavenly angels.

He was one of them until he spoke his famous five statements of egomania:

1. I will ascend into heaven.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
5. I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14: 13-14)

Then he became the ugly old devil. Most Christians believe there is a devil. He is running around looking for our weak spots – our Achilles’ heels – so he can attack us. Even though he may cause us some temporary pain by trying to pull us away from the Father’s love, he cannot succeed if we have given our hearts to God. It is amazing that he continues to try. He tried to tempt Jesus the same way!

What do you believe about him? Do you believe he is a fallen angel? Do you realize that he really was the most beautiful of all the angels and that he chose to rebel against God?

One more question as an aside: do you really believe that good angels exist and that they do God’s bidding? Angels are like the frosting on a cake. Some of us don’t really believe our cake should be anything but plain. Somehow we don’t think we deserve helpers that make our lives easier. We seem to want to have everything as difficult as possible so we can be as self-sufficient as possible. We don’t want to give God the credit for making our lives work. This mindset is one more way of failing to give God the glory. It is one more way the devil lies to us by denying God’s grace...God’s love.

And yet another question: do you believe that Jesus came to the earth, died on the cross to pay for our sins, became our sin, arose, and went to heaven where He sits on the right hand of His Father? I have to ask: do you realize that the Holy Spirit came to live in your heart when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? You know that you can ask your heavenly Father in the name of Jesus for whatever you need, and He’ll give it to you if you ask within His will, don’t you? He really will send His angels to protect you and keep you from falling. Trusting God is honoring God – giving Him the Glory.

The battle between the good and the evil angels is being fought over you because you are the apple of God’s eye and Satan, the fallen angel, hates you.

--And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)

In summary, the ultimate question: Do you know how God loves you? He gave His only Son so you would not perish. Why can we not accept the simplicity of God’s love?

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