AUG. 6, 2013
The
Standoff
Read: 1 John 4:1-6
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
—1 John 4:4
When
a local bookstore rearranged its shelves, I noticed an increase in the
number
of titles relating to sorcery and witchcraft. In fact, the religion section
had
become a virtual “standoff” between light and darkness. Christian titles
flanked one side of the aisle, while roughly the same number of occult books
lined the other side.
Sometimes
we may think of God and Satan in the same way I thought of the
books in that
bookstore. We see them as opposing but equal forces with the
same unlimited
power. However, God is God and Satan is not. God is stronger
than any force of
darkness. He does what He pleases (Ps. 135:6), while Satan’s
power is limited
to what God allows. When Satan supposed that misfortune
would make Job curse
God, God told Satan, “Behold, all that [Job] has is in
your power; only do not
lay a hand on his person” (Job 1:12). Satan had to
play by God’s rules.
Because
God is in charge over everything, as Christ’s followers we don’t need
to be
paralyzed by fear of Satan’s power over our lives or the lives of the
believers
around us. He tempts us and tries to influence us, but the Bible
assures us,
“He who is in [us] is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all! —Perronet
The powers of evil around you are no match for the power of
Jesus within you.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
