KNOCKED OUT BY THE BELL
In 1896 Norman "Kid" McCoy was the reigning world welter-weight boxing champion. On one occasion, he was fighting a contender with the misfortune of being deaf. Upon discovering his opponent's disability, McCoy wasted no time in taking advantage of this handicap. Near the end of the third round, McCoy stepped back and pointed to his adversary's corner, indicating the bell had rung. "Oh thank you so much," said McCoy's opponent. "Very civil of you." However, the round hadn’t actually ended, and as soon as the other boxer dropped his hands and turned away, McCoy knocked him out!
While we might admire his ingenuity, in some ways "Kid" McCoy’s tactics represent those of our enemy. The devil operates solely on the basis of lies, half-truths and deception. When he tempted Eve, Satan began with a question. “Did God REALLY say…?” (lying by implication). He followed with a bold-faced lie, “You shall NOT surely die.” Then landing his knockout punch, he delivered a half-truth. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5).
In a sense, every struggle we face results from believing some lie of the devil. Am I fearful? I’m believing the lie that God won't take care of me. Do I feel others don't like me? I’ve swallowed Satan's lie that I need the approval of people. We're in a fight to the death with the enemy (I Peter 5:8). I can’t drop my guard for a moment. Satan's in the ring, hoping to knock me out. Let’s make certain we aren’t “deaf” to his tactics.
Our current times reflect Satan’s operations. Following the devil’s lead, our world system spews out lies and deception like a fire hydrant. It’s pretty much impossible to know what to believe anymore. “Fake news” is as prevalent as fleas on a dog. Whether it’s political candidates, network news, or friends on social media, fact-checking is now an essential part of life. Even then, it’s not enough to casually check our sources. To be certain, we must dig deep, because often we can’t even trust the fact-checking websites.
That’s why it’s so refreshing to follow Jesus. As God’s Son, He is the embodiment of Living Truth. In John 14:6 He declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” We can believe Him, trust Him and rely on every word He says. And that’s the truth!
Principle: Satan operates on the basis of lies, half-truths and deception.
Promise: Jesus is the embodiment of Living Truth. We can trust Him.
Ponder:
How do our current cultural conditions affect my attitude toward truth?
How can I learn to trust Jesus more?
Prayer: Lord Jesus I praise you for you are Truth. Increase my faith so that I trust you more.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Psalm 19:7-14.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.