Daily Devotionals

Bride and Gloom Week 2: Monday

"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" Genesis 3:1

The enemy has been fighting against us from the very beginning. He began with the first two people God created, Adam and Eve. Craftily and sneakily, he lied and deceived this couple. When he did this, he created a divide not only between them and God but also between Adam and Eve. Satan has been after our relationships ever since, especially our marriages. Knowing this, we have to be on guard and prepared to fight against his attacks and fight for our relationships and marriages. 

Satan began attacking Adam and Eve almost as soon as they were introduced in the book of Genesis. After God created them, He placed them in the Garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 2, where He gave them one instruction, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (verses 16-17). Then, in Genesis chapter 3, Satan came to them as a serpent and said to Eve one day, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden” (verse 1). In asking this question, Satan was causing Eve to question God and His goodness. In addition, he caused Eve to believe that God was withholding something good from her. Ultimately, both Adam and Eve chose to give in to sin and eat the fruit from that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When this happened, sin entered the world and brought chaos. It destroyed the relationship between humanity and God and between Adam and Eve. If you keep reading Genesis 3, you will see that one of the punishments for their sin was conflict between Adam and Eve (verse 17).

This story of Adam and Eve is only the first instance of Satan influencing relationships. He has been trying to destroy our relationships ever since, especially marriages. So we have to be prepared. That is why 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Friends, the enemy is out to destroy our relationships, especially our marriages, and stir up conflict instead of peace. So let’s fight against his tactics and schemes so that we have strong relationships that always point others to Christ.

Moving toward action

Take a few minutes to think about your primary relationships, especially your relationship with your spouse if you are married. How are these relationships going? In what ways do you see that the enemy might be attacking? How can you fight against these attacks? Then, make a plan to fight against them. If you are married, be sure to talk through these questions with your spouse.

Going Deeper

1 Peter 5:1-13 (NLT)

"And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

13 Your sister church here in Babylon[d] sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark."