Reading: One of the reasons we love baseball so much is because of the strategies within the game.  There is so much more going on than can be seen. A great battle to watch in the game is the one between the pitcher and hitter. The pitcher is trying to confuse the hitter by keeping him guessing what pitch is next. Pitchers will waste a pitch here and there to “setup” his next pitch.  All of this is going on for one reason, to get the hitter out!  

Today’s text reveals a much more serious battle going on – one between you and “your enemy the devil”. He is prowling around you day and night like a roaring lion trying to destroy not only your life, but your soul.  

The word devil literally means slanderer or accuser. His goal is to slander, silence, and shame you until he destroys our faith in God – getting us “out of the game”. Much like the battle between a pitcher and hitter, we are in a battle against the devil and God gives us a strategy that will work if we use it.  

There are ways to go on the offense. You can “be alert” and watch out for the devil’s schemes all around you. Know that he is always at work trying to deceive us from what is true.  The devil’s favorite scheme is to get us to make small compromises throughout our day that lead us further away from the truth. We must ALWAYS be alert and attentive to the devil’s schemes if we want to win the battle against him.

You can also “be of sober mind”. We are told to think clearly about the devil. This includes thinking clearly about who the devil is and who he is not. Know that you are in a battle. It should not take us long to look around the world at all the evil and injustice to know that we are in a war. Take a moment to ponder some of the most prominent injustices in the world (abortion, sex trafficking, slave trading, racism) and think about what schemes the devil has used to be so successful in these areas, and then make sure you are thinking clearly so that you do not fall. 

We also need to know who the devil is not. Your enemy is not God! Your enemy knows his days are numbered, he knows that he has ultimately been defeated and will soon be destroyed when Jesus Christ our Lord returns. We can walk in power and in confidence because the one who is in us (Christ) is greater than the one who is in the world (devil).  

Peter shares with us a final way to combat the devil. Resist him by standing firm in the faith. One of the most effective ways to resist the devil is by quoting truth. Here are some verses that would be helpful to commit to memory to help you resist the devil.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, 

and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  

But when you are tempted, he will also provide 

a way out so that you can endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10

Be encouraged that you are not alone in this battle – whether in sickness, suffering or slander - you are not alone in this battle. If you are in Christ, you are joined together with believers all over the world in this fight to overcome evil with good. There is great encouragement knowing that people around the world are praying for you in your suffering just as we should be praying for them.  

The best position for a hitter to be in is to be ahead in the count. The highest batting average of any count is 2-0. The success rate for the hitter goes way up when he is ahead in the count. The main reason for this is because the pitcher is limited on what he can do. He does not have a lot of tricks to use in that count and because of that the hitter has a better chance to succeed. I believe that if we take Peter’s advice and put into practice these four steps, then we will also succeed more in resisting the devil in this world!

Reflection: Think about the schemes the devil has used against you in the last week and in the last 24 hours.  How did you react?

Which of these steps would be most effective for you to implement today in your fight against sin and Satan?

Prayer Prompt: Father, thank you that you have already won the war. Help me to recognize the enemies’ schemes, being alert and sober minded in the battle of day to day living. Give me strength to resist and stand firm. Be with my brothers and sisters all over the world as they do the same.