DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013
SATAN HAS NOTHING IN CHRIST
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. John 14:30
As the saints of God we have everything in Christ: Our hope, our purpose, our righteousness, our future, our truth, our love. We live and move in Christ. We can't live outside of Him. When we encounter our brothers and sisters in Christ we have unity because we have the same hope, and the same purpose, and the same righteousness, and the same future, and the same truth, and the same love. This is why we can have fellowship with one another and we are commanded to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
In direct contrast, Satan has nothing in Christ. Satan's hope is in the world. He desires to interact with the world and the worldly to promote his purposes, which are all of pride and deceit. He can't enter into Christ. Though he hates the body and dares to destroy it--the gates of hell shall not prevail against Christ or His Church. Disunity and division are the weapons Satan uses within the Church body and those who are not knit together in love, in Christ, are easy targets. He looks for the self- centered, self- serving carnal "Christian" who is not truly united with Christ or His body--the Ananias and Sapphiras of the church--those who have their own agenda and are not rooted in love. Consider the Scriptures:
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts 5:1-11
In Christ, God adds all blessings to us as we rest in Him. We refuse to be ambitious because we have the peace of Christ which passeth all understanding, which is our glorious treasure in this world of tumult and wickedness. We cleave to Christ as we grow deeper and deeper in love with our LORD. There is no falling away for the faithful.
