Friday, December 15
Avoid accusations
Scripture: Revelation 12
Revelation 12:10–12
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,
“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
the one who accuses them day and night before our God,
has been thrown down.
11 But they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea
because the devil has come down to you!
He is filled with terrible anger,
for he knows that he only has a little time!”
Observation
War in heaven becomes war on earth. Notice what this says about our adversary, the devil.
He is “the accuser of our brothers and sisters.” He brings accusations against us before God and no doubt each other. Remember that the next time you hear accusations against a brother or sister in Christ!
He is filled with rage for he knows he has only a little time. His days are numbered, his time is short, his defeat is certain. So he’s fighting like a mad dog for his life. The battle is real and our adversary wants to destroy us. 1 Peter 5:8
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.” Remember that anger is the devil’s playground. Ephesians 4:26–27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 27 Do not give the devil an opportunity.”
Notice what it says about us. We overcome the devil and win the battle by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (the gospel and our story). And we aren’t afraid to die and give our lives for Christ. Courage!
Application
Because the spiritual battle is often unseen, it’s also often out of mind. But it’s real and raging and the stakes are high.
My big takeaway today is to avoid accusations—both speaking them and listening to them. Since the devil is “the accuser of the brothers and sisters,” I should be cautious and suspicious about any accusations I hear. The devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44) and any accusation he makes will be colored by and intended for deception. He wants to destroy us.
Avoid accusations.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for all the times I’ve listened to gossip or passed it on; for all the times I’ve entertained accusations against others or passed them on. Help me to be a defender of the brothers and sisters rather than an accuser. Open my eyes to the battle around me and the enemy who destroys.
More: Obadiah, Psalm 145, John 5