Devotional - 99-11-27 - If I Were the Devil

I guess this sounds a little weird for a title, but bear with me. At a Bible study, we studied the book of Jude. Jude encourages us to contend for the faith amidst a lot of false teaching and teachers. I placed a few verses at the start here, and the same ones at the end of this devotional. With the truth of these verses in mind, let us read on.

II Corinthians 2:11 That no advantage may be gained over us by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

II Corinthians 11:14-15 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing, therefore, if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL... The first thing I would do is to deny my own existence in the world and downplay it in the local church, allowing me to go about my business unhindered and unchecked!

IF I WERE THE DEVIL... The second thing I would do would be to read the Bible carefully. I could then twist and turn the Scriptures, to mislead saints and sinners alike.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL... I would confuse people with cults, encourage them to attend their services, and promote the idea that good works are enough to get you into Heaven.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL...The fourth thing I would do is to prevent saints from growing in grace. I would confuse them theologically. I would push them into one of many extremes. I would attempt to discourage them, and would get them mad if I could -- and most of all, keep them extremely idle.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL... The fifth thing I would do is to ruthlessly and viciously attack three foundations of the faith.

1. Marriage: (Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5)
   
   1. I would advocate easy divorce laws
   2. I would support abortion. I would beguile women with the same foolish and false freedoms I promised, in the garden of Eden, to Eve.
      
2. Human Government: (Genesis 9 and Romans 13) and the church (Romans 1:7 and I Corinthians 1:2). I would encourage anarchy: "We shall overthrow." I would encourage students to burn everything (except the midnight oil for study). I would encourage disgust for all authority -- police, courts, customs and the constitution. I could even take wholesome Biblical words and pervert their meaning -- like "grass", "bread" and "fruit" -- and begin a more detailed debasing of the Word.
   
3. The Church: I would continue to attack the church from the outside, but would concentrate the bulk of my evil effort from within. I would strive to establish a dead church, dig a hole, carve a tombstone and bury it.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL ... I would strive for weeks, months, years, centuries, twenty-four hours a day, to accomplish all these goals. Some I could achieve as a roaring lion, others as an angel of light. But each goal would reveal to some that I am busy at work, while the rest are almost asleep.

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

In His Service,
Rick & Sandy

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org