‘We are not unaware of his schemes.’ 2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV
One of Satan’s favourite schemes is getting us to use the right things in the wrong way. During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Christ’s hunger by saying, ‘Tell these stones to become bread.’ (Matthew 4:3 NIV)
But Jesus knew the Scriptures, so He replied, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV)
If Jesus had given in to His human impulses, He’d have gone along with Satan’s scheme and forfeited the supply of His heavenly Father that was just about to arrive.
We all need money, but Satan will tempt you to cheat with it: never repay your friends, borrow a mate’s car and not pay for the damage you cause, cheat on your taxes, turn your back on donating to the needy. We’ve all been created with the need for companionship and sexual fulfilment. But Satan will tempt you to fulfil those needs by trapping you into pornography.
We all long to be successful. But Satan will tempt you to achieve it through lies and manipulation.
One of his oldest schemes is to mess with our values so that good appears to be evil, and evil appears as good. So what’s the answer? Paul says, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIV) There is only one way to unmask Satan and defeat his schemes, and that’s through a close walk with God, a daily study of the Scriptures, and a consistent prayer life.
That’s how you guard your mind, your mouth, and your morals.
SoulFood: Num 16–18, Matt 8:1–17, Ps 44:1–8, Pro 11:9
word4today an adaptation of The Word For Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2023
