If I were the devil:
I would convince people to love their life above all else, not to lose it. Not to illness, serving others, patriotism, or the name of Christ. (Matthew 16:24-25)
I would have Believers place their trust in places other than God by esteeming, quoting, or idolizing pastors, politicians, historians, vaccines, or other perceived saviors. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I would systematically disassemble the meeting together of Believers in order to destroy the fellowship, strength, and encouragement it promises. (Hebrews 10:25)
I would cause Christians to participate in divisive arguments, plant seeds of bitterness, and introduce current events that distract from a Follower’s main purpose on earth, therefore, dimming their ability to be the light to the world. (Matthew 5:14)
I would convince all people they deserve better; they should expect perfection, desire comfort, and should demand to be valued when actually they are called to serve, become less, and lay their life down for others. (John 15:12-17)
I would rewrite history and manipulate people’s perception of it to the point of distorting reality, ruining the hope of them learning from their mistakes. (Proverbs 26:11)
I would make logic unreasonable and foolishness wise. I would infiltrate an “Emperor’s New Clothes” mentality and throw out common sense. (1 Corinthians 1:20)
I would elevate rights over responsibilities. (Galatians 6:4-5)
I would redefine terms, distorting the truth, the ability to reason together fairly, and I’d fuel disunity and chaos. (Luke 4:1-15)
I would erase the stories in Scripture of leadership and persecution - two concepts rarely separated. The greatest example of this, Christ Himself, who did NOT consider equality w/ God something to be sought after, but suffered and unto death while leading people to God. (Philippians 2 )
I would have people start with their wounds, their emotions, their feelings, and their experiences as a baseline for Truth instead of founding every decision on the Word of God. (Jeremiah 17:9)
I would place Believers in a slumber or a silence where they are too lazy or too scared to stand up and be persecuted or mocked for what God says is righteous. (2 Timothy 3:12)
Next, I’d embark on a campaign to distort the definition of justice. I would twist Scripture to elevate justice in a way that Believers forget they are to SEEK it and for others - they are not owed justice (Micah 6:8) — and they are to uphold the justice they are given (Deuteronomy 16:20).
I’d then convince all people they are in fact owed things in life, I’d give them a platform to demand these rights, and downplay all Scriptures that highlights GOD as their refuge, the One who ultimately enacts justice, and the One they are to wait on, not working in their own strength or apart from Him to obtain what “they are owed”. (Romans 12:9!)
I would take prayer out of schools, pretend a woman’s rights were more important than the unborn child she was designed to protect, applaud liberal thought, criticize and ridicule the Judeo-Christian faith and paint it with one, broad brush as narrow-minded and ignorant, I would create endless religions that confuse the reality that people can only choose to put their hope in me or God; evil or good, Heaven or hell, I’d make humanity so cruel that they’d buy and sell other humans for sex or work, I’d push to legalize pedophilia and sexually unnatural relationships, break down the family, make violence entertainment, allow selfishness to reign, and man’s heart to grow cold. (ALL of Matthew 24)
But, if I were God: I would ALLOW this behavior as an EXTREME act of My mercy. (Isaiah 30:18-19) I would not destroy humanity like in times before (Genesis 6:5-7), but allow the enemy to think He’s in control all the while pulling his puppet strings. (Job 2:3) Out of this grace for all humanity, I’d expect the Believers to be holy and set apart (John 15:18), a replica of My ways and a beacon pointing to the hope found in My Son’s death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 4:6-7); an example to the confused, their enemies, and the lost. I’d command my children not to entangle themselves in civilian affairs when becoming a part of My army (2 Timothy 2:4), while also asking them to lean on My Holy Spirit’s wisdom to always proclaim the Truth. in love. and boldly. where I lead. (Proverbs 24:4-5)
I, a mere human, am not God or the Devil. I AM a follower of Christ. Because time is short in the one life I get to live, the knowledge of my responsibility, along with all Followers, is great: Fear God & keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
These verses, in their entirety, are powerful reminders. You can find a list of them all written out in order here.
-Amanda