Daily Devotionals

John Gossner's Treasury

Devotional: February 8th

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist, stedfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Romans 16:20.

You have a mighty enemy whom you do not see; the world does not believe in His existence; it regards belief in his activity as fanaticism and nonsense. But all the mightier, and all the more dangerous is his activity. The apostles Peter and Paul knew him and believed in his existence, and also warned the faithful against his arts, not imaginary, but real and dangerous. What more terrible than a roaring Lion? How careful you would be if a lion were near you and you knew you were threatened by him! But are not the attempts of Satan much more terrible and dangerous? To deny his existence or his "walking about," his desire to "devour" will not protect you against him. What, then, protects you? Faith, earnest resistance in faith, and constant prayer. He who does not believe in the devil’s existence, who does not resist him, is already caught in his snares. He who believes in his existence, but does not watch, nor pray, will fall into ’his jaws and not escape therefrom without deep wounds, if he is not altogether devoured by him. Satan has assailed and tempted the head, Christ; should he then fear His members, His disciples, or spare them? We are too frail and impotent as against him. We cannot overcome him; but the Lord has overcome him, and Christ will and can overcome him in us. He is stronger than the ’’strong man. " He who remains in Christ has overcome the "strong man” the "wicked one" (1 John 2:13). But "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19). "It is taken captive by him to do his win" (2 Timothy 2:26). God alone can "deliver us from his power" (Colossians 1:13).

From strength to strength go on,

Wrestle, and fight, and pray:

Tread all the powers of darkness down

And win the well-fought day.