DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 6 December 2023
TOPIC: Outsmarting Satan
TEXT: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11 (KJV)
2 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
KEY VERSE
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
(2 Corinthians 2:11)
DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 6 December 2023 MESSAGE
There is a fable about the little lizard playing with a little snake. Mother snake noticed the joyous scenario and later, at home, gave a serious rebuke to the little snake for playing with what was supposed to be a food item. Incidentally, mother lizard also witnessed the perilous play and rebuked the little lizard for playing with a dangerous enemy that could easily consume it. The next day, the now wised up little snake came out calling the little lizard for play. The little lizard declined from a safe distance and said, “…the thing that your mother told you, my mother has also told me”.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 5 December 2023 – Reward For Peacemakers
Christians who are not ignorant of the cunning strategies of Satan can hardly be overcome by him. Apostle Paul was mindful of this in his writing to the Corinthian church. A member of the church who committed incest had been excommunicated and thus was handed “unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh…” When the incestuous fellow became sufficiently penitent for his sin, the apostle made a case for his restoration. He considered sufficient the punishment already served by the man and the discipline which served its purpose.
Keeping the man further in grief could become an opportunity for Satan to take advantage of the church. In all areas of our lives, at home, church and workplace, we often forget that there is a crafty Satan who seeks to take advantage of our lapses to ruin us. When a Christian is engulfed in bitterness against another believer, Satan takes advantage of that to hurt them and even trouble the church. If only we can be more mindful of the enemy’s wiles and make wise and scriptural decisions, we will always outsmart him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Knowing and living by the Scriptures are the smart ways to outsmart Satan.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joel 1-3
