Thoughts for another day

August 21, 2012.

Today's verse: 2 Cor. 2:11. Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In Scripture today, Paul, in the context of forgiving, as seen in the earlier verse, says we forgive so that the devil may not take advantage of us because we're aware of his machinations and his sly ways.  Forgiveness is difficult not because we don't want to forgive but because the he puts specious arguments in our minds as to why we shouldn't forgive in saying that the person will only think that he has won the argument because you are weak and will boss over you even more.  And thus we don't forgive and like a festering wound, continue toward even further damage.

There are two key lessons here; one is of forgiveness which we must do for if we don't forgive others God will not forgive us.  The other is that we know the ways of the devil.  We're aware of things he does and how he spreads venom between brothers and people.  The devil is a master deceiver and he knows that people harbor pride and he must just prick their pride with his bogus arguments and they're off to argue and fight.  If later you ask them why they fought, they don't know and are apologetic; and it happens with all of us isn't it?

It's not only in the area of forgiveness we must realise the devil works to keep an unforgiving spirit in us, but he also has many other weapons in his arsenal which he uses against God's children.   Hatred is one such and we see how the world is suffering because of it.  Greed is another which has made the world so pathetic, so much so, the greed of just 1 percent of the people starves 99 percent!  The spirit of dominion is another that keeps man bound into a 'superiority' race where there's constant endeavor to prove who is superior.  There're so many of these sinful traits that the devil implants in us and he also constantly urges us to do according to the dictates of these.  But thanks to the Spirit of God who is with us constantly and who gives us the mind of Christ so we're able to discern between the right and the wrong and defeat the purposes of the enemy of souls.