JOB 1:6-12 – Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

Ask any Christian if he or she believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior and that He is alive and real.  The answer is a resounding “Of course I do. That is what makes me a Christian. I talk with Him in prayer. I learn of Him through His Word, and I live to please Him.”

Now ask any Christian if he or she believes in a real and personal devil.  The answer also would be a resounding, “Of course I do. He is my chief adversary.” But here is an immediate follow-up question for all of us, “Do we live like there is a real and personal devil?”  Sadly, one of the great tactics of the devil is to get people, even Christians, to live ignorant of his existence.  And to test that statement, did we live the past 24 hours or longer, aware there is a real, personal, and active devil in the world and our lives?  The evidence we did or not would be whether or not we armed ourselves with the armor of God He has provided for our warfare against the devil; the armor explained by the Apostle Paul in the sixth chapter to the Ephesian believers . . .

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Let’s make it our prayer to be aware of the devil and make it our practice to put on the armor of God to stand against him.

PRAYER: “Father, make me aware that my adversary, the devil, is real and personal.”

QUOTE: “Don’t underestimate the craftiness of the devil, and a tactic he uses is our forgetfulness of his existence.”