We are not Ignorant of Satan’s Tricks

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

Since Satan rebelled in heaven, He has been at war with God. We became active combatants when our first parents disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. This was, however, is not a conventional one.

A few days ago, I watched a video of some believers using sticks, machetes and other crude weapons in an imaginary battle with the evil one. The devil must be happy when people reduce this significant conflict into a physical confrontation.

We do not Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood

Apostle Paul taught, “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

This is a spiritual war where sophisticated armies, weapons and armoured vehicles are irrelevant. It is a battle for the control of the human thought, emotions and actions. Heavenly powers and the powers of darkness are competing for human souls.

We are not Ignorant of Satan’s Devices

If we will win this war on the side of Jesus, we must heed Paul’s warning to the church at Corinth. The apostle writes, “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

In war, it is important not only to know your strength and weaknesses but also those of the enemy. Satan often uses persecution, coercion and ridicule to dissuade us from believing in God or remaining in the faith.

Satan’s Subtle Devices

However, the evil one’s most effective weapon is wearing sheepskin and infiltrating the ranks of believers. This way, he mixes light with darkness and erases the dividing line between good and evil.

He gradually brings the world into the church and thus edging God out of our lives, while convincing us we are still in the faith. Only be a living connection with Jesus through prayer, Bible study, witnessing and practicing the faith, can we identify and escape the devil’s snares.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me knowledge, discernment and wisdom to detect the tricks of the devil and continue fighting on Your side.