August 7

Morning

Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you. — Song 1:4 BSB

Believers love Jesus with a deeper affection than they give to any other being. They would sooner part with father and mother than be separated from Christ. They hold all earthly comforts with a loose grip, but they carry Him tightly locked in their hearts. They willingly deny themselves for His sake, but nothing can force them to deny Him. Any love that can be extinguished by the fire of persecution is shallow; the true believer’s love runs far deeper. Throughout history, men have tried to separate believers from their Lord, but all attempts have failed. Neither the crowns of honor nor the frowns of opposition have ever been able to untie this more-than-Gordian knot. This love is not fleeting, easily broken by the world’s power. Neither man nor devil has discovered the key to open this lock. Satan’s greatest efforts have proven futile in breaking apart these divinely united hearts.

It is written, and nothing can erase this truth: “The upright love You.” The depth of this love, however, is not so much seen in outward expressions but in the inner longing of the upright. We lament daily that we cannot love Him enough. How we wish our hearts could contain more love and reach further in devotion!

Alas! The longest reach of our love is but a small span compared to His worth. Our affection is but a drop in the bucket compared to what He deserves. Yet, if our love is measured by our intentions, it is high indeed. We trust that this is how our Lord views it. Oh, that we could gather all the love in every heart and offer it to Him who is altogether lovely!

Evening

For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. — 1 Thess 2:18 BSB

Since the moment when good first stood against evil, it has always been true in spiritual life that Satan hinders us. From every direction, at all times of day or night, whether in the heat of battle or in quiet moments, Satan is there to hinder us. If we work in the field, he tries to break the plow. If we build the wall, he seeks to tear down the stones. Whether we serve God through suffering or action, Satan always hinders us.

He hindered us when we first came to Christ. We faced fierce opposition from him when we first gazed at the cross and found life. Now that we are saved, he tries to hinder the growth of our holy character. You might say, “I’ve walked faithfully so far, and no one can question my integrity.” Be cautious, for your virtue will be tested. Satan will aim his attacks at the very area where you feel strongest. If you’ve been known for your strong faith, expect your faith to be challenged. If you’ve been as meek as Moses, prepare for temptation to provoke you to speak rashly. Satan targets the ripest fruits, and his attacks are sharpest against your finest virtues.

Satan is also sure to hinder us in prayer. He weakens our persistence and undermines our faith, hoping we miss out on God’s blessings. He is just as vigilant in opposing Christian service. Every revival of faith has met with a revival of Satan’s resistance. Whenever Ezra and Nehemiah set to work, Sanballat and Tobiah were stirred up to oppose them. What then? We are not discouraged by Satan’s hindrance. It’s proof we’re on the Lord’s side, doing His work, and in His strength, we will overcome and triumph over our adversary!