Hey, happy Friday, everyone!

C.S. Lewis once wrote that there are two equal and opposite errors that we can make about the devil. One is to disbelieve in his existence. The other is to have an excessive and unhealthy interest in him.

In other words, we can live as though Satan is behind every bush.
We also can live as though he doesn’t exist at all.

Both would be bad ways of living.

Scripture, however, calls us to something different.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

There is a very real spiritual battle.

Paul doesn’t tell us to obsess over it, but he does tell us to recognize it, because sometimes we forget who the enemy actually is.

The person who frustrated you this week is not the enemy.
The coworker who disagreed with you is not the enemy.
The person who disappointed you this week is not the enemy.
The person who made your life more difficult, not the enemy.

Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood — and that should change how we enter conflict.

It should change how we respond when we’re hurt.
It changes how we see the person standing across from us.

We don’t have to look for a demon behind every difficult moment, but neither should we forget that there is a very real enemy who delights in division, bitterness, fear, accusation, and celebrates despair.

But here’s the good news as we head into this weekend: You know what? Jesus has already won.

It’s the end of the story.
We already know it.

We do not need to fight for this victory. We get to live in this victory because of what Christ did at the cross where He defeated sin, death, and the devil.

And at the empty tomb, Christ defeated that death. And because we belong to Him, we do not need to live being fearful or afraid of the darkness.

Instead, we get to bask in the light of Jesus, which pierces and pushes away all darkness.

We get to put on the armor of God.
We pray.
We forgive.
We refuse to turn people into enemies.
And we keep serving with the love of Christ.

So the battle is real. The enemy is real. But the victory of Jesus is even more real.

So this weekend, don’t spend your time looking behind every bush.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Be mindful of the enemy.
But remember, you can tell him in Jesus’s name: Don’t tread on me.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You very much, for You have already won and given to us the victory. Help us to recognize that spiritual battle, not to live as though it’s not in existence around us, to be mindful of it without obsessing about it, being confident as we live in the victory that You’ve given to us. Guard our hearts from bitterness, division, fear, and accusation and keep our eyes fixed on You. Would You help us also to love and serve others this weekend with Your grace? We ask this in Your blessed and holy name. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Final Thought
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