The following is a tweet, I saw this morning, from Kevin DeYoung, whom I follow on Twitter.  I post this because it really got me thinking and therefore I want to get you thinking:

Satan’s plan is more simple than spooky: make you forget about God and be disinterested in Christ.

It’s really a brilliant plan, when you think about it, because it is so covertly subversive.  It’s Satan’s seal team that slips in and out without being noticed.  Satan doesn’t just start firing away (which would give away his position and plan) but rather sneaks in with distractions that quietly and subtly leads you away from God; so much so, that you begin to forget.  And once forgotten, then temptations become much more effective. That’s the power of a seal team. You can’t see them coming until it is too late and then they are gone just as fast; leaving behind the intended damage.

But the defense to this covert attack is to stay on high alert.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV)

This is not a sure fire defense where you will never sin.  There will be moments (many moments) where Satan’s seal team will get in and do damage but if we can stay on high alert we will have a chance to minimize the damage and find healing as we remember the Gospel; that through faith in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness.

And that is what Satan is trying to get you to forget and thus become disinterested in Jesus:  Forgiveness.  If Jesus is just some moral teacher then we will quickly become disinterested as there are many moral teachers in the world to choose from.  But Jesus is more than that.  Jesus is salvation.  It’s no wonder that Satan wants you to forget who Jesus really is.

So…

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

And praise be to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that God has defeated Satan through the cross; rending Satan’s seal teams ultimately ineffective.

The pastor -|—