I’ve been thinking about what the devil is most threatened by.
I don’t think it’s Sunday mornings.
I don’t think it’s youth groups.
I don’t think it’s VBS.
I don’t think it’s prayer meetings.
I don’t think it’s pastors or evangelists.
I don’t think it’s praise and worship.
I think the NUMBER ONE thing the devil is out to destroy is relationships.
It’s marriages.
But it’s not just marriages.
It’s relationships between family members.
Parents and children. Siblings.
But it’s not just between family members.
It’s between coworkers.
But it’s not just between coworkers.
It’s between churches and fellow servants of Christ.
The devil is out to destroy them all.
He is crafty. He is clever.
He knows we are on our guard when it comes to the church and church activities.
So instead, he will use God’s people against each other.
A disagreement that turns into something more.
A lie.
A bad choice that causes pain.
Pride.
Selfishness.
The devil will use it all to ruin relationships.
Because he knows the value of relationships.
He knows where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, He is with them. (Mathew 18:20)
He knows two are better than one and a cord of three strands is not easily broken. (Ephesians 4:9, 12)
He knows human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness that God desires. (1:20)
He knows God is FOR marriages. And families. And believers who gather together to serve and worship Him. (Mark 10:9, Exodus 20:12, Hebrews 10:25)
And the devil’s purpose is steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)
But God has given us His Word to be able to withstand whatever the devil does to try to destroy our relationships.
And it’s all summed up with this:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
Work hard at your relationships.
They are so important.
They are useful in serving Christ.
And what the devil meant for evil, God will use for good.
