Profiting From The Enemy's Attacks

First, he will point out that you are not perfect but are expected to be; then he will tell you that since you are not perfect, God will have nothing to do with our pitiful efforts.

You may be asking yourself, "What can I do of a practical nature to withstand Satan when he comes to criticize my duties for Christ?"

This is God's purpose in allowing Satan to spy on you. Is a child ever more circumspect than when the teacher has scheduled a conference with his parents? Likewise, if you know Satan is watching and is sure to tell tales about you to God, you ought to be more careful to keep your slate clean. This should challenge you to study your heart well and read God's Word faithfully. Then when Satan attacks, you will have a rebuttal ready to counter every accusation.

To be honest with ourselves, we must admit that many of his charges are all too true. If Satan, whose eyes of understanding are so darkened, can charge us with this much, what could the light of God uncover! What a wonderful opportunity again to acknowledge your own sinfulness, and the overriding mercy of God! By this attitude, we take the very bricks Satan is throwing at us, and use them to build a monument to the glory of our gracious Lord.

Then you can answer his criticisms wisely. The fallacy is double. First, he will point out that you are not perfect but are expected to be; then he will tell you that since you are not perfect, God will have nothing to do with your pitiful efforts.

To persuade you that your service and yourself are hypocritical, proud, selfish, etc., is generally not too difficult, because something of these sins is found in everyone-- even Christians! You must learn to distinguish between pride in a work and a proud work, between hypocrisy in a person, and a hypocrite. The best of saints have the stirring of such corruptions in them. Comfort yourself with this: If you find a voice within your heart pleading for God and entering its protest against evil, you and your efforts are acceptable in His sight.

God sees your failures as symptoms of your sickly state here below and pities you as He would a lame child.

-William Gurnall