Passage Read: Revelation 11-12
Meditation Verse: 12:11
Thought
The devil is enraged and labors to lead the whole world astray, even before he is cast down out of heaven! He is at war with all who belong to Jesus. He is trying to deceive everyone, especially those who are seeking to know God. If he can't deceive us, he will attack us in any and every way possible, whether financial or social or philosophical or moral or physical or any number of other ways. The only hope we have to withstand his attacks is to love Jesus more than our own lives, to trust fully in the hope of eternal life we have through Jesus' blood, and to walk faithfully in all His ways.
Application
If I love this life more than the next, more than trusting Jesus and walking faithfully in His ways, then Satan already has the upper hand and it is only a matter of time before I fall--unless I repent and give up those worldly hopes and ambitions. Satan is far smarter than I am, far more experienced. Either I'm fully committed to Jesus and His Word and His promises, or I'm a sitting duck. Every time I find something I'm loathe to give up, I must surrender it. I have to let it go; it cannot be important to me, unless it is Jesus Christ, His Word and His Kingdom. Material things, worldly ambitions, even my own reputation, honor, name, I need to surrender all of these things in order to fully trust and honor Jesus Christ in this life, and succeed against all of Satan's schemes.