Verse: 1 John 3:7-10
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
Thoughts
What a powerful statement. Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the enemy. Think about that. He didn't just appear to help us, or teach us good things, or love us. He came to destroy the works of the devil.
He was on a mission to bring down all the tools the enemy uses. He came to destroy pain, suffering, sickness, and sin. He came to bring down racism, sexism, and classism. He came to topple the idols of greed, sex, and power.
The part I sometimes overlook though, is that he also came to destroy the works of the enemy in me. He came to destroy my greed, my lust, my selfishness, and my bitterness. It is so much easier to find the evil "out there" isn't it? I can see evil in the world, and evil in others. But it is so much harder to find the evil "in me." We don't want to believe it is there. It is far less painful to accuse others, and blame others, and point out the faults of others, than it is to do the same to ourselves.
But the Word of God asks us to look inside first. I heard a great quote one time that if you really want revival, it has to start in you. I need a personal revival of my life and heart and faith. I need God to destroy whatever footholds the enemy has in my life. And I need him to build up what he wants in my life. That's my prayer and my hope, each day, one step at a time.
Prayer
God I pray that whatever is not of you in my life would be destroyed. Tear it down. And build up instead the character and love you want in me.