January 24: CHERISHING ENMITY

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

God came looking for His people immediately after they sinned. He addressed the serpent as Adam and Eve listened. This enmity is a gift from God. Fallen man’s natural inclination is to be in alignment with Satan, whose departure from truth is the very source from which evil came into existence. In our sinful state, there is no natural enmity toward the instigator of sin. Apart from the LORD’s intervention, we had no possibility of learning of our choice to realign our lives with Him.

The love and mercy of Jesus toward mankind actually intensifies Satan’s hatred toward us. There is no rest for him; only a driving, desperate motivation to induce others to join his fate by following his rebellious example, which is always disguised as something pleasant or beneficial. Thwarting the divine plan of redemption is the focus of his efforts. God’s word reveals His own loving character while exposing the evil intentions and subtle, deceptive methods of the enemy.

He who made us knows what is best for us. Thank God for the grace that assists human hearts in cherishing enmity against the deceiver! The deceiver himself works to blind us as to his existence, then to lead us away from the Creator’s instructions for life, making us his slaves.

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16

This gift of grace is implanted in a willing soul by the Spirit of the LORD and nourished as she bathes her mind in the word of God. For this reason, Satan will provide endless excuses for the believer to avoid time in the word, lest his devices to deprave human nature would be deflected by godly discernment, enabling the believer to resist his power.

The cross of Christ sealed the expulsion of Satan from Heaven (Revelation 12:10), but he is still bringing woe on the earth (v.12). Indeed, he is broadening his efforts to take as many down with him as possible. Jesus is coming soon. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we must joyfully be about [our] Father’s business (Luke 2:49) of teaching, spreading, inviting, and sharing the best news ever!

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17