How to avoid the Enemy’s aim
The target on your back—every leader has one. I know it sounds harsh and not very motivating for a young person who aspires to lead something , but it’s true. Anyone who has ever been in a leadership position, if they give an honest assessment of their experience, can tell you of times when someone or some group made them a target of their complaint or conniving.
Some leaders foolishly invite others to shoot at them. They feel invincible and are so full of pride they’re blind to the dangers of inviting enemy fire. They are willing to take some shots from the enemy because they believe they have truly superior strength and strategy. They assess that every victory has some amount of collateral damage, so they are not particularly concerned about the harm that may come to themselves or their mission. They don’t believe pride really does come before the fall; they don’t see the penalty that always accompanies this sin.
Satan’s designs
The apostle Paul didn’t make this mistake. In the middle of a difficult-to-explain passage, he uses this phrase: “...so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
The Bible scholars aren’t sure of all of the details, but the general story is this. Paul started a dynamic and fast-growing church in Corinth. After considerable investment he moved on to the other cities where God called him to preach and start churches. But the church at Corinth quickly began to have problems. In Paul’s absence, the church experienced division, false doctrine, and sin. Blatant sexual sin was ignored and even tolerated by the leaders. Paul had written his first letter hoping to resolve and correct some problems. Some scholars believe 1 Corinthians resolved the problems and specifically served to correct a significant issue with a man whose sins had caused great upset in the church. Other scholars believe Paul sent another letter that, while harsh, was also compassionate and finally corrected the issue. That letter is missing; we have no copy of it. Whichever letter did the job, while Paul was waiting to get word from Titus about the results, he was deeply grieved and stressed. He wondered about the church’s health in general and was concerned for the relationships that needed restoration.
Paul spoke of forgiveness. One aspect of unity in the body of Christ is the ability of the whole body, not just one or two, to forgive those who err. This is so important to Paul that he reminds the church not to be ignorant of Satan’s strategies, to avoid carelessly being outwitted by the enemy. In our modern world it is easy to forget spiritual warfare is always in play. The enemy of God hasn’t stopped trying to derail the eternal plans of God. He continues to find ways to disrupt and distract from God’s plans for individual and even universal renewal and restoration. God’s desire is for all to receive forgiveness and live in unity with him forever. Satan doesn’t want this.
The Enemy’s distractions
In recent times I am more acutely aware that, just as things are going well, the Enemy will introduce a distraction. A family is healthy and strong. A plan has finally seen success. Seekers and believers have found hope, healing, forgiveness, and transformation. Then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, there is gossip, the dredging up of old issues, a disagreement between people that suddenly becomes bigger than necessary. And now I am discouraged and distracted. My attention shifts to something less important than the Kingdom challenges before us. Anxiety rises. Paul is suggesting in this one phrase that we must remain aware that Satan is clever and his strategy is to distract any and all of us from the things God has called us to do.
My attention shifts to something less important than the Kingdom challenges before us.
Maybe it’s worth a personal assessment. When do you find yourself discouraged? When are you distracted from your calling? Do you find yourself ignoring or not using the gifts God has given you? These gifts might be talents or even financial resources. What relationships have been interrupted? Is it possible that some sin has crept into your heart or mind? The enemy can and will use virtually anything to make sure we do not advance the Kingdom of God. We must do as Paul suggests, not become outwitted by Satan.
The best defense
Once you know your weaknesses and the target areas Satan might use, you can work to create guardrails to keep you from slipping. Mature Christians can help you with accountability in these areas. And while dealing with known weaknesses, don’t think the enemy won’t seek new areas to attack. The best defense is to develop a daily discipline of time in God’s Word and prayer. And we must always stay active in the work of God wherever we find him working. Then we can see and hear the triumphant procession that Paul described:
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Don’t let the target on your back keep you from entering and enjoying the grand parade of God as he advances his Kingdom!
Your time with God’s Word
2 Corinthians 2:10-17 ESV
Photo by Ricardo Arce on Unsplash
