But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
In Christ, We Have Victory
When the apostle Paul went to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey, the word of God that he preached regarding Jesus Christ bore fruit. Some came to faith in Jesus. But enemies of the gospel raised an outcry against Paul, stirred up a mob, and forced Paul to flee during the night. Torn away from them so abruptly, Paul did not even have a chance to say goodbye to that congregation of believers.
In this letter to his Christian friends in that city, he shares his great desire to return to instruct them in the truths of God’s Word and encourage them in the face of such great opposition. But Satan stopped Paul and his companions from returning.
Satan is ever trying to prevent the progress of the gospel. He works incessantly to keep people from believing in Jesus or persuades them to deny or ignore him as their Savior. By spreading false teaching and instigating outright opposition against believers, he seeks to destroy the church of Jesus and lead people to destruction in hell.
But Jesus is stronger than the devil, and the Bible tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Jesus came to establish the truth of salvation. He took away the guilt of our sins by dying for us. He clothed us in his perfection so that by faith in him we are freed from the curse of eternal death and freely given the crown of life with God forever.
Satan has been defeated. Though he still strives to oppose Jesus and the truth of salvation—even making our life difficult so often—in Christ we have the victory over him and look forward to the glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes.
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for winning the victory over the devil, so that I know he cannot hurt me this day. Amen.
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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