In the old days, men wore their togs and played rugby. No one was really paid to do it, and it was a lot of fun. After the game, everyone would hang out together. Late at night, they would drive back home filled with satisfaction. 

The modern approach to sport is completely different. It is almost a science and every position and plan is studied in detail. Attack patterns are developed and defensive lines are planned and drilled one by one. 

Even the opposition players come under the microscope. Their playing patterns are analysed to find potential gaps. 

It is essential to thoroughly understand your opposition. This enables you to anticipate their moves and formulate strategies to not only defend against them but also to proactively attack and defeat them. 

The devil is our enemy. While some fear discussing him, believing it attracts his attention, understanding his tactics is vital for resisting his influence and remaining steadfast in faith. 

How can one prepare for a war if one doesn’t know what the enemy looks like? If we know who the devil is and how he deceives us, we can make plans to guarantee us a win. 

The devil was an angel created by God. He was very attractive and established himself as the highest angel. However, for some reason, he became very arrogant about his beauty and position and began to make plans to put himself above God. 

God’s banishment of the devil from heaven transformed him into an adversary, driven to assault those within God’s light and lead them astray. 

We get to know him in the New Testament. He is called the ruler of the world and the prince of the power of the air. He is an accuser, mostly false, and a deceiver. He is the opponent and the adversary. He is a slanderer and a liar. 

One compliment we can give the guy is that he is definitely not lazy. With everything in him, he is trying to tempt us away from God and he will not rest until he has won. 

We must strengthen ourselves against this opponent. We need to know his identity, tactics, and strategies, and then prepare for them. We cannot afford to be caught unprepared. 

I intentionally write ‘devil’ in lowercase, disregarding the standard capitalisation of proper nouns. This reflects my belief that he does not warrant the respect implied by a capital letter. 

Take care that you do not fall into the devil’s camp, because: 8Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin.  

Scripture
1 John 3:4-10 

Reflection
Do you know your opponent?
Where is he attacking you?
What plans do you have to put in place? 

Prayer
Father, I cannot stand against this opponent alone. I ask for your help. Amen.