[Deeply Rooted] Stand StrongSample

The Enemy’s Tactic: Deception

Crime dramas and detective shows like “Law & Order” and “CSI” have popularized law enforcement lingo, familiarizing many of us with terms like “perp” and “M. O.” An “M. O.” which refers to a criminal’s modus operandi or “method of operation.” It’s how repeat offenders usually carry out their criminal enterprises, and their repeated tactics can become useful clues for police and detectives when they work to solve or prevent crimes.

Satan, our enemy, has his own M.O. More than any other tactic, his primary scheme against us is deception. He is known as the deceiver and the father of lies, and he often uses deception to tempt God’s people away from truth. Yesterday, we spoke briefly about the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan didn’t try to chase Adam and Eve out of the garden by force. He didn’t try to scare them with shows of power or mystical strength. No, he merely used his powers of deception to cause them to question God’s character and commands. This was, sadly, an effective strategy, and we have all paid dearly for it.

There is another account in the Bible of Satan working to tempt someone away from God’s will. This temptation happened to Jesus, and Matthew 4 tells us all about it. Again, Satan doesn’t come against Jesus with a show of force or power. They don’t duel it out or go fist-to-fist. Satan slyly and deceptively tries to tempt Jesus to worship, follow, and obey him. At one point, Satan even uses Scripture to tempt Jesus. He tells Jesus to throw himself off a cliff and quotes Psalm 91 to entice Jesus to fall for the temptation. Jesus, of course, does not give in to Satan’s temptations or fall for his deception. To every temptation Satan throws His way, Jesus responds with the truth of God’s Word. This is an example that we can follow. When Satan tries to tempt and deceive us, it is vital that we stand on God’s Word and His truth to resist the devil’s schemes.

Anti-counterfeit agencies do their most effective work against the illegal counterfeit industry, not just by being good at spotting the fakes, but by being experts about the genuine articles. The better they know the real thing, the easier it is to know when a fraud comes along. It’s the same with us. The more familiar we are with the truth of God’s Word and character, the easier it will be for us to recognize the enemy’s lies and schemes.

Thought of the Day: I may be tempted today, but I will follow Christ’s example to help me stand against Satan’s schemes. I will hold to God’s Word because it is truth and my best defense against the enemy’s lies.