As I prayed and considered what to write for today’s bulletin / blog, James 4:7 came to mind; “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (ESV) While much could be said about submitting ourselves to God, I’d like to focus on the second half of this verse, and ask the question, “What does it mean to resist the devil?”
I suspect that we all have ideas of what it means to resist the devil. One idea might be something along the lines of the “just say no!”campaign against drugs. Another idea might involve claiming Jesus’ name and status as one of His children. Or, perhaps, you are thinking more along the lines of avoiding or running away from temptation. All of these ideas have merit, but I don’t think they are exactly what this passage has in mind. To get to the heart of the matter, we really need to look beyond the word “resist” and take a look at the Greek word behind it.
The Greek word behind “resist” is ἀντίστητε. The Greek dictionaries show the strength of this word with such definitions as, “be in opposition to,” “set oneself against,” “hold one’s ground,” and “to stand in opposition to.” (BDAG, Barclay, and LEH) Another one gives the following explanation: “to oppose someone, involving not only a psychological attitude but also a corresponding behavior - 'to oppose, to be hostile toward, to show hostility.' (Louw & Nida)”
Those strong words show us what it takes to “resist the devil” so that “he will flee from you.” It goes beyond just saying “no” and involves active opposition to, and hostility toward, the devil. There is no passivity, whatsoever, in this resistance. And, it isn't just an “in the moment” thing. It is something that must be part of our lifestyle and way of thinking. It requires us to go on the offensive, putting Satan on the defensive, and eventually to flight. And with God’s help, he will flee! So, stand strong, and resist him!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
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