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?

Are you aware of the fact that there is someone who doesn’t want you to have a good day today? Are you aware of the fact that you have an enemy who is ready to take away your peace of mind as well as your joy? Do you know that someone is going to do everything he can today to get you to sin and be unfaithful to God? Surely by now you guess who that someone is... (and, you’re right) the devil. His vicious nature is described in I Peter 5:8, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” So, we need to be “careful out there!” But we have a wonderful promise that we need to remember. It’s found in I Corinthians 10:13,14: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape.” Yes, it’s true... Satan wants to destroy our relationship with God and he’ll use most anything to accomplish it. But, “greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world!” (I John 4:4) So, if we are faithful to God we do not have to fear what the devil may try to do. In fact, the Bible says, “If we resist him and he will run away!” (James 4:7)

In a real sense there is no room for complacency in the Christian Life. Paul comes at this with a negative in his principles for everyday Christian living when he wrote, “not lagging behind in diligence.” (Romans 12:11a) It’s been quipped that the problem with the modern church is that too many Christians who are merely sitting on the premises when they should be standing on the promises. To be diligent in our walk with Christ means that we will not become lazy in our Christian witness. It means that we will be alert as Peter says, “always ready to give an answer to the hope that is within us.” (I Peter 3:15) You see, there really is no place for mediocrity in the matter of following Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to follow Him and so we need to put forth the effort to “keep up.” We do that with a willingness to stay as close to Him as we can...any lagging behind makes us extremely vulnerable to the Devil and his attacks. So let’s wake up and get going today...pick up the pace, if needed. Jesus is out in front...let’s follow Him.