Thought for Monday, 29 May 2023

 1 John 4:4 NIVUK

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome

them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Satan’s time is not here yet and that time must come before the return of Jesus. Our task is to be strong and have the courage to oppose his followers, and fight for those who are slipping from faith.

 

 J. Oswald Sanders said, “I Lest we be we be terrified by our adversaries, it is important to remember that Satan’s power is not inherent but permitted. It is not unlimited but controlled. It is not invincible but broken. It is not assured of success but is surely doomed. Satan knows well that there is no ultimate victory for him. The pronounced sentence has only been postponed. But he works to hinder and postpone Christ’s final triumph. We can rejoice in the certainty of John’s assurance: “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).   

All around us we can see the effect that Satan is having on those who don’t know Jesus. In fact, even those who do know Jesus are falling away from the faith and doubting the very existence of God and His precious son. Even some church clergy are rewriting God’s laws to suit certain sections of the communities, ignoring those who stand by the sacred words of God.

Of course, this is causing even more unrest. Some with weaker knowledge of Father Son and holy Spirit are saying, “If you can’t beat them join them”. So, it is not only destroying those who are willing to follow the path of wickedness, but they will be responsible for the ones who unwittingly follow the crowd into the darkness.

We who know God and keep faith with Him have a duty to do our best to strengthen the faith of those who are dithering, trying to follow all the messages they hear. Their biggest problem is that the tricks of Satan are like bribing a child into a car with the promise of sweets or puppies. We must be vigilant to recognise these actions and lies when they are being spread and hatch a plan of our own to make people aware of what is happening. It is getting so prevalent that people are becoming inured to all the wrong going on in the world, a lot of folks have stopped ‘taking it in’.

Prayer

Almighty God, we know Yours will be the final victory. Give us the words needed to keep Your children safe from the whispers of Satan’s followers. Help us to follow You openly so that other people can see what we have in You and Your son. Let our lives shine with our love for You and the glory shining on You from our hearts, words and deeds. Help us to be a living bible to those who have not read it. In Jesus mighty name, amen.