Manna in the Morning

“Speak of the Devil!” Now there’s an appropriate phrase to consider...this being October 31st and all. Such an expression is used when someone enters the room unexpectedly or maybe they were expected but not at the precise time they entered. At any rate, when the expression is used one isn’t actually referring to the Devil, himself. As my mom used to say, “It’s just an expression!” Actually, the phrase has been around for quite a while dating even back to the Middle Ages. It is a shortened form of an old English proverb that said, “Speak of the Devil and he doth appear.” Truth is the idea of the Devil has been diminished in our society...that is, except at Halloween time. Tonight you’re likely to see all sorts of devilment: witches, skeletons, ghosts, goblins, zombies, and of course, caricatures of the devil in his bright red suit with horns and sporting a pitchfork. Such playfulness has caused many to deny the Devil’s existence or at least not take him very seriously. The Bible, however, makes it clear that he is real...and he does “prowl around like a lion” bent on destruction. He has power but God is greater! God’s Word says that if we “resist him he will flee.” And another wonderful verse to remember is, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4) So rather than “speaking of the Devil,” I think it would be far better to speak of Jesus Christ! Don’t you agree?