Week 9 | Tuesday
Tuesday – The One True Enemy
Written by Jillian Walters (Jefferson Campus)
Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
I used to teach high school English. When teaching the difference between a protagonist and antagonist, I often heard people try to define them as the “good guy” and “bad guy.” However, a protagonist is simply the main character, and the antagonist is anybody opposing the main character. Our minds naturally gravitate to defining people as good and bad; we think of ourselves as good, which means anyone who disagrees with us, fights against us, or hurts us is viewed as bad. Perhaps this is the reason we love books and movies with clearly defined good guys and bad guys- it gives us someone visible to despise.
While we can point fingers at many people for many reasons, the truth is that there is only one true enemy. He has many names – satan, devil, deceiver, tempter, accuser, father of lies, or ruler of this world – but do not be deceived, he is one in the same. Whether your battle is against a “bad guy” or yourself, at the heart of the battle is satan. We may not be able to see him, but he is actively at work. Every day he lays temptations at our door steps, lures us into sin, leads others to sin against us, or simply leads us to apathy. Big or small, if it isn’t righteous or holy, the enemy is behind it.
But how do we fight an enemy we can’t see? The enemy is tricky! He has fooled us into thinking that people are the enemies and stirs the pot of hate everywhere he goes. He has pitted us against our neighbors over the way they manicure their lawns, our coworkers because we have different perspectives about a project, or our own family because we vote differently. Oh, how easy the enemy’s job is! But as believers, we must not lose sight of the one true enemy, and we must see his schemes for what they are and actively fight them. Can we look at the neighbor who hasn’t mowed and, instead of being annoyed and making them our enemy, see them as someone the schemer is after? Can we come alongside them to help them in a time of need by mowing for them? What about people who have sinned against us? We must see them as broken people in need of a Savior, just like you and me, and be moved to forgiveness, not necessarily because we want to, but because we know it foils the enemy’s plans of divisiveness by clinging to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:44. Can we look at every hard, annoying, cruel, and broken situation and see where Satan has dug his claws into that person? Discernment is a gift the Lord has given us, we must use it to see that people are all under attack by the one true enemy, and whether they are believers or not yet, we need to armor up and fight the battle against Satan, not people.
Reflection Questions:
- Who or what is frustrating you right now or in the past? How can you reframe it to see the enemy at work? Can this lead you to approach it differently or offer forgiveness?
- What is a mantra you can develop as a reminder that the true enemy is Satan, not people? Repeat or pray it when frustrated by people.
- Evaluate where the enemy works actively against you. Where do you need to build in safeguards, pray, or seek accountability or support to fight against him?
Prayer Prompt:
“Father, it’s easy for me to focus on people as the enemy, but please help me see them as you see them. Give me eyes to see the one true enemy at work. Give me the power and strength to stand firm on You against his schemes in my own life, and help me support my brothers and sisters when he comes after them.”