JULY 29, 1 Corinthians 16:9

Apostle Paul said that a ‘great door’ was open and there were ‘many adversaries’. He meant that while there are many opportunities to preach the Gospel, there are also many adversaries or enemies, who are against the work of the ministry. This is because the devil is our fiercest opponent and the worst troublemaker. He is determined to destroy God’s work and kingdom. However, Paul was equally determined to keep his spirits up.

Like Paul, are you determined to keep away from devil and not allow him to make you do wrong things? He is deceitful and is always zealous to tempt us to fall into sin.

Jane is 7 years old and she is in the kitchen watching her Mother bake a cake. After her mother removes the cake from the oven, she walks out of the kitchen saying “ Jane dear, stay out of the kitchen. As long as you see the cake, you’ll want to taste it.” But Jane answers saying “ I don’t want to eat the cake. I just want to look at it.” She stays on in the kitchen alone with her mouth watering as she stares at the freshly baked cake which looks and smells delicious.

Ten minutes later, Mother walks in and sees Jane pinching the sides of the cake and putting small pieces of cake into her mouth. Horrified, she tells her daughter to stop. She says, “Don’t give place to the devil.”

“There isn’t a devil,” Jane tells her Mother.

“The Bible says there is. Jesus Himself had been tempted by the devil. The devil tries to make us do wrong but he can’t if we don’t give him a chance,” explains Mother.

Not giving the devil any chance to make us do wrong things, is to not let him have any place in or around us. When Jane stays near the cake, she is giving the devil a place where he can get her to do wrong. Jane says, “I should go back to my room to pray. This way, the devil cannot tempt me.”

Thought: How do you stop the devil from tempting you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are sorry that we often give place to the devil. Please forgive us. Help us remember to resist the devil so that he will flee from us. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.