30/11/2011 - DO NOT LET SATAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU

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Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us.

II Corinthians 2:10-11a

While we live in this world we will always come across people who will offend us. The reason is that the devil really exists and because he is pure evil he will use all means to get someone to attack us. However, instead of getting worried about being slandered, we can be sure it was the enemy who deceived someone and got him or her to afflict us. The best thing to do is not to take that into account – or, in case such person comes up to us, we should forgive him or her because if we get angry and counter-attack, perhaps we are allowing Satan to deceive us too. 

Jesus taught that if we do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will our Father forgive us our trespasses (Matthew 6:15). So, it is our duty to forgive those who caused us any harm. It does not mean, however, that we must live side by side with those who do what is wrong on a regular basis. Nonetheless, once we forgive someone, not only do we remove hurt from our heart but we also get those who offended us to understand that we do not let ourselves be carried away by lies and we do not serve the devil because we abide by the divine teachings. My brethren, our testimony can save those who are poisoned by the bitterness caused by their evil acts.

The apostle Paul said that if he had forgiven anything, he had done so for the sakes of the brethren at Corinth who, as a result, would learn how to do the right thing. Therefore, we must always be mindful of our actions because they are examples to others. The bad thing is when people see us doing what we are told not to do. We must always be aware that our actions speak louder than any good preaching; the witness we bear will always speak louder.

Doing something in Jesus\’ presence means that we do not act in a careless manner, but with responsibility. Meditate on that and you will never hurt anyone. Even if someone has saddened you, forgive him in the presence of Christ. In so doing you will take a burden off your heart and will no longer have bad memories which, in many cases, hurt more than the act itself. The forgiveness given in the Lord\’s presence is stronger than offense, because it is given in an irreversible way. 

There is nothing sadder than a Christian being overcome by Satan, who first gets someone to offend us and then drives us into persecuting those who caused us harm. But when we forgive them instead of avenging ourselves we overcome the devil; after all, the Word of God declares that in all these things we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). So in order not to let the enemy be victorious, we must do as we are told by the Lord, always being on the alert to ensure that none of our decisions are taken without us being in the presence of Christ. In this way we prove that the enemy is just a loser! 

In Christ with love, 

R. R. Soares