Satan’s dirty tricks and God’s remedies (part 4)

Satan separates believers

In his effort to destroy the church and Christian works, Satan attacks our unity and fellowship. He makes us indifferent, and hard on each other or jealous and resentful. He makes us criticise and attack each other or quarrel over insignificant things and insist on our rights. If we then separate, Satan has achieved his goal of weakening our testimony and hindering our ministry. – What is God’s remedy for this kind of attack?¹

He gives us His own example. Although the Bible is very honest about the lives of people like Job, Abraham, or David, and does not hide their weaknesses and sins, God is more concerned with the work of His grace in them. In the New Testament David is described as a man after the heart of God (Acts 13:22), Abraham as a model of faith (Rom. 4:12) and Job as an example of patience (James 5:11). Never again is even one word spoken about their failures. Like the painter who in his portrait of Alexander the Great concealed the ugly scar on Alexander’s face by putting a finger over it, God also places His finger over the scars and wounds that have been caused by sin in the lives of believers. We should imitate God’s behaviour and instead of pointing the finger at the defeats of our brothers and sisters, cover their mistakes mercifully. Proverbs 17:9 is still a good piece of advice for our fellowship: Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

He gives us helpful statements and instructions in His Word. Our verse does not emphasize only two, but three characteristics of a born-again person. Not only do we accept the truth about Jesus and love the Father, but we also love everyone else who has been born of God! Many other verses teach the same thing. Beloved, let us love one another. (1 John 4:7). We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers (1 John 3:14). Love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Pt 1:22). Let brotherly love continue (Heb. 13:1). The reason for these commands is obvious. God Himself is love, and this love is especially for His children (1 John 4:8). When He works new life in a person, the way it is shown should correspond to His own nature.

He shows us the cross as the place of reconciliation between God and man. God was pleased … to reconcile to himself all things … making peace by the blood of his cross (Col 1:19f). Figuratively speaking the cross is also a suitable meeting place when we seek reconciliation among ourselves. When we place ourselves together under the cross, we see ourselves as sinners and in need of grace. Under the cross all arrogance ceases, sin can be confessed to one another and forgiveness can be granted. After all, our own sin was forgiven by the blood of His cross. How much reconciliation could happen, how many separations could be avoided if we would just meet more often under the cross!

¹ cf. Thomas Brooks. Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (Kindle-Positions 2978ff). Monergism Books. Kindle-Version.