(The following is the July 6 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Romans 16 and pay close attention to verses 19-20.)
Paul told Roman Christians, “Detest evil; cling to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). Similarly, he said, “I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil” (v. 19). This statement assumes evil exists, that we can know the difference between good and evil, and that we can think and act in ways that please God.
Our adversary in living holy lives is Satan. His lies in the Garden of Eden tempted Adam and Eve to distrust what God told them. After the fall, God cursed the serpent: “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:15). Christ’s death and resurrection assured Satan’s ultimate defeat. Still, Satan is allowed to deceive until the day he gets his eternal punishment from God when he will be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10).
Paul knew of Satan’s eventual demise. He assured and encouraged the Romans, saying, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (v. 20). Until we know Christ as Lord, we are under the control of our sinful human nature. Once God saves us, we have a new nature but continue our battle against sins of the flesh and Satan’s temptations until we see our Lord face-to-face. We shouldn’t get discouraged by this battle. Instead, our knowledge of God’s ultimate victory over sin, Satan, and death should strengthen our faith and deepen our hope in what lies ahead.
Christians should live with the knowledge and confidence that there is already a nail-scarred footprint on the head of Satan. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Next Step:
What sins and temptations has Christ helped you overcome? Praise him for his past, present, and future help overcoming evil in your life.
