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Growing up, there was nothing I craved more than success. I was willing to go wherever and do whatever to obtain it. I grew up listening to podcasts from all of the most successful people that the world has to offer. This shaped my mentality. I always looked at my life and my friends, constantly evaluating those in my life that would help me get to where I wanted to go versus who would get in my way or slow me down. The people that were deemed as essential to my growth and maintained positive interactions with me were the only people I maintained communication with.
I remember scrolling through Facebook one day, seeing the amount of nonsense that some of my friends were posting about. I began to delete them one by one. Most would say that this mentality is selfish, and I agree. However, unless they are living for someone, or something, greater than themselves, this mentality can be expected from each individual.
Shortly after deleting some friends on Facebook, I received a text from someone saying, “I can’t believe you deleted me from Facebook. Lose my number.”
Sadly, I responded, “I’m sorry I never had your number saved. Who are you?”
Isn’t it interesting that we are so caught up in ourselves that we think the world revolves around us?
Coming to Christ, you constantly hear people say, “I’m fighting with the devil.” Isn’t it interesting that the devil has seen great men and women of faith that were willing to die and go to prison for God, but he continues to fight with us?
"7 And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. 8 And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]?" - Job 1:7-8 AMPC
Very interesting that the devil roamed the entire earth and only Job was someone that he wanted to test. I wonder what made satan so afraid of Job?
"1 I dictated a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl? 2 For what portion should I have from God above [if I were lewd], and what heritage from the Almighty on high? 3 Does not calamity [justly] befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity? 4 Does not [God] see my ways and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with falsehood or vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit—6 Oh, let me be weighed in a just balance and let Him weigh me, that God may know my integrity! 7 If my step has turned out of [God’s] way, and my heart has gone the way my eyes [covetously] invited, and if any spot has stained my hands with guilt, 8 Then let me sow and let another eat; yes, let the produce of my field or my offspring be rooted out. 9 If my heart has been deceived and I made a fool by a woman, or if I have [covetously] laid wait at my neighbor’s door [until his departure], 10 Then let my wife grind [meal, like a bondslave] for another, and let others bow down upon her. 11 For [adultery] is a heinous and chief crime, an iniquity [to demand action by] the judges and punishment. 12 For [uncontrolled passion] is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (to destruction, ruin, and the place of final torment); [that fire once lighted would rage until all is consumed] and would burn to the root all my [life’s] increase. 13 If I have despised and rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant when they contended or brought a complaint against me, 14 What then shall I do when God rises up [to judge]? When He visits [to inquire of me], what shall I answer Him? 15 Did not He Who made me in the womb make [my servant]? And did not One fashion us both in the womb? 16 If I have withheld from the poor and needy what they desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief], 17 Or have eaten my morsel alone and have not shared it with the fatherless—18 No, but from my youth [the fatherless] grew up with me as a father, and I have been [the widow’s] guide from my mother’s womb—19 If I have seen anyone perish for want of clothing, or any poor person without covering, 20 If his loins have not blessed me [for clothing them], and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21 If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless when I saw [that the judges would be favorable and be] my help at the [council] gate, 22 Then let my shoulder fall away from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its socket. 23 For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of His majesty I could not endure [to face Him] and could do nothing. 24 If I have made gold my trust and hope or have said to fine gold, You are my confidence, 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great and because my [powerful] hand [alone] had gotten much, 26 If I beheld [as an object of worship] the sunlight when it shone or the moon walking in its brightness, 27 And my heart has been secretly enticed by them or my mouth has kissed my hand [in homage to them], 28 This also would have been [a heinous and principal] iniquity to demand the judges’ action and punishment, for I would have denied and been false to the God Who is above. 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me or lifted myself up [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him—30 No, I have let my mouth sin neither by cursing my enemy nor by praying that he might die—31 [Just ask] if the men of my tent will not say, Who can find one in need who has not been satisfied with food he gave them?—32 The temporary resident has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my door to the wayfaring man—33 If like Adam or like [other] men I have concealed my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom 34 Because I feared the great multitude and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence and did not go out of the door—35 Oh, for a hearing! Oh, for an answer from the Almighty! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form] in a book! 36 Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder and wind the scroll about my head as a diadem. 37 I would count out to Him the number of my steps [with every detail of my life], approaching His presence as a prince—38 For if my land has cried out against me and its furrows have complained together with tears [that I have no right to them], 39 If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them or have caused its [rightful] owners to breathe their last, 40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat and cockleburs instead of barley. The [controversial] words of Job [with his friends] are ended." - Job 31 AMPC
The interesting thing is that everyone thinks the devil is their number one enemy, but most people who think this way aren’t even known for their devotion and commitment to God. The devil is very limited; he is not omnipresent, which means he cannot be everywhere at once. So a question comes to mind — Why do we believe the devil is so concerned with us when we are actually not even that concerned with God, ourselves?
"13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time." - Luke 4:13-14 AMPC
The devil has seen what true disciples are: people who are willing to uproot their lives, sell everything, travel to foreign countries, go to prison and be beaten all for the sake of Christ. These are the people that are on the devil’s priority list.
The reality is, most of us think that we’re fighting the devil, when we’re actually fighting the consequences of our own bad decisions. When we’re actually fighting the consequences of our own bad decisions.
In Hebrews 11, we get a glimpse of the men and women of faith who came before us. These are the people that he is frightened by.
"32 And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions, 34 Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. 35 [Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. 36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated—38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy—roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. 39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfilment of what was promised," - Hebrews 11:32-39 AMPC
Wouldn’t it be sad to live your whole life thinking you are fighting against someone who doesn’t actually know you?
"15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." - Acts 19:15-16 NKJV
The harsh reality is that if the devil doesn’t know us, there is a good chance that God doesn’t either.
"22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]." - Matthew 7:22-23 AMPC
Question of the Day: Are you fighting against the devil or are you fighting against the person in the mirror who has been led by him?