🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ Jesus Exposes the Enemy

Scripture: John 8:44 (KJV)

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Devotion:

Actions reveal identity.

Have you ever been told,

“You look just like your daddy!”

Or,

“You act just like your mama!”

😂 Whewww!

Whether we like it or not, people often recognize who we belong to by what they see in us.

The same is true spiritually.

We cannot hide who we belong to.

Our obedience…

Our attitudes…

Our speech…

And our actions will reveal whether we are following God or following the enemy.

Whewwww!

God’s Word is so powerful and so true that it doesn’t just comfort us…

It exposes us.

It reveals the places where the enemy may be influencing our thoughts, attitudes, and behavior.

We’ve talked before about people not realizing that the devil is using them.

My, my, my!

What an awful thought.

I don’t want to be used by my Heavenly Father’s enemy… who is also my enemy.

Let me ask you something.

Would you knowingly do favors for someone who hates you?

Would you willingly obey someone whose goal is to destroy your life?

Of course not!

But every time we allow ourselves to be controlled by sin instead of the Holy Spirit…

That’s exactly what we’re doing.

Whewww!

Now before we start thinking about everybody else…

Let’s think about ourselves.

A person can proclaim Jesus on Sunday…

Then spend the rest of the week gossiping and tearing people down.

Who do you think is influencing that?

Someone says,

“I’m saved!”

But they’re constantly stirring up drama at work…

Always carrying stories from one person to another…

Keeping confusion going.

That’s not the fruit of Christ.

That’s the work of the enemy.

Or maybe someone claims to know Jesus…

But they are mean, hateful, unforgiving, and enjoy hurting people with their words.

Whewwww!

God help us.

Jesus never used His words to destroy people.

He used them to save people.

Now let’s dig into today’s scripture.

One thing that stood out to me in John chapter 8 is this:

Hypocrisy angers Jesus.

My, my, my!

Don’t pretend to belong to Me while living like My enemy.

Don’t honor Me with your lips while your life says something completely different.

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees—religious leaders who looked righteous on the outside but whose hearts were far from God.

They claimed that God was their Father.

They even claimed Abraham.

But Jesus looked past their titles…

Past their religious appearance…

Past their public image…

And examined their actions.

Whewww!!

Then He said something that must have shaken them to their core.

“Ye are of your father the devil…”

Why?

Because they were trying to kill Him.

Jesus said,

“Your father was a murderer from the beginning… and you’re acting just like him.”

Whewww!!

Then He went even further.

He said the devil does not live in the truth.

He is a liar.

Matter of fact…

He’s the father of lies.

Jesus was essentially saying,

“Let Me show you who your father really is… because your actions are revealing it.”

Now that’s a sobering thought.

We can say all day long,

“I’m a child of God.”

But the real question is…

Who am I acting like?

Jesus even told them,

“If Abraham were your father, you would do the works of Abraham.”

In other words…

Children resemble their father.

Not just in appearance…

But in behavior.

The same is true for us.

If God is truly our Father…

People should see Jesus in the way we forgive.

In the way we love.

In the way we tell the truth.

In the way we treat people.

In the way we handle conflict.

In the way we obey God’s Word.

Whewwww!! 🙌🏽

I encourage you today to read the entire eighth chapter of John.

It gives beautiful context to this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees.

You’ll see that this wasn’t just an argument.

It was an invitation.

Jesus was exposing their hearts so they could repent and truly become children of God.

Today, don’t be offended if God’s Word exposes something in you.

Be grateful.

Because what God reveals…

He wants to heal.

God bless you!

Reflection

Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself:

If someone watched my actions this week, would they clearly see Jesus in me?

Don’t answer with your words.

Answer with your life.

If God has revealed an area where your actions don’t match your confession, don’t ignore it.

Repent.

Ask Him to change you.

The goal isn’t to look like a Christian.

The goal is to become more like Christ.

Prayer: (really pray this prayer)

Father God, thank You for loving me enough to correct me through Your Word. I don’t want to simply say that I belong to You; I want my life to prove it. Search my heart and expose anything in me that does not reflect Your character. Forgive me for every time I have allowed anger, gossip, pride, unforgiveness, or any other sinful attitude to control my actions. Holy Spirit, help me recognize when the enemy is trying to use me and give me the strength to resist him. Let my words bring life instead of destruction. Let my actions point people to Jesus instead of pushing them away. Make me more loving, more truthful, more humble, and more obedient each day. May everyone who encounters me see Christ living in me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏼🕊️