Day 22: That we would not give the devil a foothold
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)
We often use the concept of not giving the devil a foothold as an admonishment to not flirt with sin. While that is certainly true, this particular passage is actually in the context of our relationships with one another in the church. When we let anger boil we are giving the devil a foothold in our church. We often pray that the Lord would bind the works of the enemy as we gather together. Perhaps as we pray this we should also take seriously what the Bible says about pursuing broken relationships within the church. Not following Matthew 18 (and other passages) is to give the devil a foothold. Therefore let us pursue unity and reconciliation as we fight the enemy.
Father, we thank you for your work through Jesus of destroying the works of the devil. We thank you for uniting sinners like us into fellowship with You and also with each other. Yet we still live as broken people in a broken world and as such we continue to have broken relationships. Empower us to follow your Word as we pursue reconciliation with one another. Keep us from being so self-righteous and self-dependent as to give the devil a foothold. Help us see our desperation for you as we reach out to one another in love. Amen.
