Key Bible Verse: "The accuser … the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night" (Revelation 12:10). Bonus Reading: Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7

A man sits alone in an office with a .45 clenched in his hands. Another forces down another drink, trying to forget reckless words that devastated a dear one. The voice of the accuser rings in both heads: "You'll never change. You've screwed up too much … hurt too many people. God can't stand you. Remember what you did?" The words have echoed in humanity's ears for thousands of years. We began listening in the garden and we've never stopped.

The New Testament word for devil is the Greek diabolos: "accuser." That's his name, with guilt his weapon of choice. The same battle goes on today. Since Satan himself is guiltier than anyone else God ever created, for him to use guilt is fighting below the belt. But he's never played by the rules, using our pasts against us. Once we've been to the cross, where Jesus paid for our sin, his accusations hold no water. Yet day after day he keeps on accusing, prodding, mocking. It's time to look him in the face and remind him of Christ's work.

If you let Satan trap you with guilt, your sins will pull you away from God. But they can draw you closer to Him if you embrace His forgiveness with repentance and praise.

—John Bolin in Life Unlimited

My Response: I'll thank God that "there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1)

Adapted from Life Unlimited (Multnomah, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Give me the resolve, Lord, to block Satan's accusations by citing my justification through Christ, and his deceptions and enticements by focusing on You.

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