Weekday Devotionals

Wily, Devious & Slick

In the spiritual realm, the battle between good and evil has been waged since time immemorial. At the forefront of this conflict stands satan, the embodiment of darkness and deceit, whose sole purpose is to sow discord, confusion, and despair among humanity. Yet, despite his craftiness, the arsenal of the adversary is surprisingly limited—consisting of only one weapon: lies.
 
The Bible, a beacon of divine wisdom and guidance, offers profound insights into the nature of spiritual warfare and the tactics employed by the enemy. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, the apostle Paul writes: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
 
Here, Paul highlights the spiritual nature of the battle we face, emphasizing that our weapons are not physical but spiritual in nature. The enemy seeks to build strongholds in our minds—false beliefs, doubts, and fears that obscure the truth of God's word. His primary tactic is to distort reality through guile or slyness, leading us astray and undermining our faith in the process.
 
In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul provides further guidance on how to combat the enemy's lies: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these, and the God of peace will be with you."
 
Here, Paul encourages believers to focus their minds on that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. By dwelling on these virtues and aligning our thoughts with God's truth, we can guard against the enemy's deceitful schemes and stand firm in our faith. Moreover, Paul exhorts us to put into practice the teachings we have received, walking in obedience to Christ and exemplifying his love and grace in our lives.
 
Ultimately, the greatest weapon against Satan's deception is the light of God's truth, which exposes the darkness and sets the captives free. As followers of Christ, let us take up the armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the enemy, knowing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
 
-Sam