I instantly pictured the satan horns and red faced guy that causes trouble on ones shoulder, or the scary movie versions that just creep me out totally.
I think that is what most people picture when they think of him. Maybe that is why there is so much trouble now of days.
See in reality the devil doesn't always show up as a bad guy, in fact right away he rarely does. He normally will show up as all your hopes and dreams, or fun.
I see a lot of people get into really bad relationships because they don't have the discernment to realize that the guy that the devil is making look so good for the moment is actually a jerk. By the time they realize it they are in over their heads and don't know how to get out. He shows up as a promise to be loved by someone and as a dream of a life together, not as the snake that he is.
When he appeared to Adam and Eve in the garden he didn't look threatening.(side note: a talking serpent would be crazy threatening to me but they didn't know to fear snakes yet since there was no reason to) He looked like any other animal, except that he spoke, and he offered them hopes and dreams of knowing everything....then came the fall.
He came and offered them a wrapped up gift that looked so appealing, but inside that gift was the worst thing they could have imagined. It separated them from being with God.
We find it so easy to criticize other people's sin, heck we think,"Well if I was in the garden walking with God and he said not to eat the fruit, no snake is going to talk me into it." But don't we all do that in different ways?
God is standing there saying to get out of a bad relationship because he has better and only He can love you unconditionally, yet it takes us years to realize it and damage has been done.
God tells us not to lie because he knows it will only cause trouble for us, but the devil makes it look like lying will make the situation easier for us...until someone finds out.
God says to not be quick to anger and not to lash out, but then the devil says that it will make us feel better to let it out and not hold stuff in...and that works until we lose valuable relationships and then all we have is ourselves and our bad attitudes.
God says to flee from sexual immorality, the devil says that the momentary pleasure will be worth it...then someone may end up pregnant or emotionally scarred and have damage that can only be fixed through the cross.
The devil shows up and puts on a show for us, and without discernment we fall for it every time. We are weak, but God is strong. We are meant to walk with God and to resist the devil as he waits like a lion to destroy us. Nothing that comes from satan is good in the end, it is all to hurt us and keep us away from God. But everything that is of God is good.
I pray that we all strive to pray for more discernment in life as it a constant battle. Thankfully we are saved and loved by a God who loves us unconditionally, even when on our best day we are dirty rags. He calls us chosen and beautiful. He is a God of forgiveness, and He wants to keep us safe. And the battle has already been won.
Much love,
Lexie
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