The Activity of ‘The Evil One’

The Activity of ‘The Evil One’

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one….

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Matthew 6:13a; I Peter 5:8

We have discussed the reality of ‘the evil one,’ and given consideration to his agenda. We have examined his history and how he has arrived at where he is now. We ought also to contemplate his activities. Our second text today is a general statement regarding Satan’s behavior. We may take it as reflective of the things in which he involves himself personally, and by logical extension, the things which he promotes through his minions, through culture, and through human depravity. We find that the evil one himself seems to pick strategic moments to personally intervene. Hence we see his ‘cameo’ appearances in the Garden of Eden, at the temptation of Job; at the resistance of Joshua; and at the temptation of Christ. Other, lesser circumstances require less personal attention. The thing of which we want to be keenly aware is that Satan is, in fact currently very active. We can be ‘sober’ and ‘vigilant’ knowing that he indeed ’walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.’ Our consolation is that Christ is greater than Satan. Christ teaches us to pray, ‘deliver us from the evil one,’ because He can and does. Our confidence is not in our ability to ‘be sober’ and ‘vigilant,’ but is in the God to Whom we pray, and the Christ, Who is the Savior of His people. It is to the All-Powerful God that we appeal when we pray, ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Our All-Powerful God,
we rejoice that You are able to deliver us
from all that would bring us down.
We pray that You will evermore deliver us
until the day that we see You Face-to-Face.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning