Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Outwit Satan (3/5/26)

I have often been surprised when a child tries to get away with something they have already attempted before, only to face severe consequences over and over. For instance, one kid snuck candy several times and faced steep consequences afterwards. Somehow it wasn’t enough to deter him from sneaking candy again or he thought the next time he might get away with it.

Similarly, I’m surprised Satan continues to try to thwart God’s plans and people, despite knowing he will ultimately lose. All of God’s promises and plans have come to fruition. Satan didn’t defeat Jesus on the cross and certainly won’t defeat Jesus at the end of time.

Revelation 20:7-10 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. ⁹ They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Last week we read about Satan being bound for the millennium. This week, we see his final judgment where he’ll face continual burning torment. Satan will deceive nations worldwide to fight against God’s people, but they will be consumed by fire. Satan’s reign will come to an end, but Jesus will reign eternally. How does this truth encourage you, especially considering current events?

In our recent Bible study on the book of Zechariah, which also contains numerous end-times prophecies, our memory verse from the final chapter stood out: Zechariah 14:9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day, there will be one LORD and His name the only name. I’m so thankful to know the end of the story. It’s comforting to know Jesus triumphs over Satan!

Alice

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Triumph over Satan (7/17/25)

Have you ever witnessed someone’s frustration grow as they lost game after game? We experienced this at our house last night during a speed game. James, the oldest, dominated most rounds, leaving Edmund (4 years younger) upset. Meanwhile, the girls and I didn’t fare much better, but we continued to enjoy playing.

On a much larger scale, the dragon (Satan) was furious about not being able to devour the baby (as we discussed last week). It seems he decided to wage war in Heaven. Let’s see how that turned out:

Revelation 12:7-12   ⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
¹¹ They triumphed over him
    by the blood of the Lamb
    and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.
¹² Therefore rejoice, you heavens
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.”

Did Satan win? Not at all! In fact, he was defeated not only by Jesus but also by Michael and his angels. Although Satan is powerful and currently rules this world, it is reassuring to know that not only is Jesus, but a multitude of angels possess greater power.  

As the temporary ruler of this world, Satan seeks to drag people down with him in a fit of anger and defiance against Jesus’s triumph. Have we, like many, been deceived by Satan’s lies and pursued fleeting earthly success and security? Or are we focused on Jesus’s triumph and pursuing a relationship with Him? We can tap into Jesus’s power to overcome Satan’s temptations for He has already triumphed over Satan. He reigns as the true and eternal ruler of Heaven and earth!

Thurs Devo: Heaven's war

Who is the ruler of Heaven?

Who is the ruler of this world right now?

Revelation 12:7-12    ⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
¹¹ They triumphed over him
    by the blood of the Lamb
    and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.
¹² Therefore rejoice, you heavens
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.”

Knowing Satan rules this world, helps explain a lot of things, doesn’t it? Remembering this, reminds me not to pursue or look for earthly success and security. It is deceptively alluring. It will all be short-lived. I think Satan uses it to distract us from focusing on God, His promises, and His truths. As powerful as Satan is, his time of rule will end. He’s already been defeated!


How will you and I rejoice in God’s power over Satan, and pursue eternal success and security? We may need to first ask for God’s help to identify areas where we have fallen for Satan’s deception and lies. Then, we can triumph over Satan, in God’s power!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Who is Worthy?

Last week we saw how God is worthy of all praise and honor. Is there anyone else that is worthy? Will we ever be worthy?

None of us are holy or righteous. The only way we can be seen as holy and righteous in God’s eyes is to believe in Jesus’ work on our behalf (His death, resurrection and exaltation). Philippians 3:9…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

So, will we one day be worthy, as well? I don’t think so. Worthy means morally upright and fully deserving. We are holy and righteous because God has consecrated and justified us by His grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus. However, we will never be fully deserving.

The next passage in Revelation points out that there is no one on earth or in Heaven that is worthy. 

Revelation 5:1-7       Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

Only triumphant Jesus, the Lamb slain for us, is worthy before God!

Let’s celebrate today and tomorrow the real reason for the season – Jesus was sent as a baby to be slain on a cross for you and me! He deserves and is worthy of our focus and praise!!!

Merry Christmas!
Alice