When I say the word “demons,” what comes to mind? 

Is it The Exorcist movie, or someone on TV supposedly commanding an evil spirit to depart as he hits someone on the forehead?

There is a lot of information out there which is either misguided or wrong. But that shouldn’t dissuade us from learning more about demons, angels, and the unseen realm. Just how a few bad politicians do not make democracy bad, so a few charlatans or well-meaning novices do not discount the reality of spiritual warfare.

C.S. Lewis has a helpful perspective—not only for those who have studied this topic before, but for those who are naturally skeptical: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

In other words, some people obsess about demons and the demonic realm. Others totally discount it. Both are errors. As Christians, we strive to shape our thinking by what God’s teaches us in the Bible.

The next few devotionals will focus on this same theme. 

The focus of today’s devotional is just for you to have an open mind. In fact, it’s to have open eyes. It’s easier to navigate a battlefield when both of your eyes are open. Would you rather walk into a battlefield with one eye covered and with no armour, or with both eyes open and with armour? After all, the Christian life is described in the New Testament as a spiritual battle.

One of the main things demons do is deceive God’s people. In 1 Timothy 4:1 Paul writes: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” When it comes to demons, deception is a non-stop theme. 

It was true then, and it’s true now.

-What does (or doesn’t) God’s truth look like?
-What does (or doesn’t) the love of Christ look like?
-Why do I find it so easy to believe things that are already convenient to me?
-Why do I get so easily distracted from the things that matter most?

I’m not saying there’s a devil under every bush. What I am saying is that there is more happening in the unseen realm than we often realize. 

Let’s pay attention.

It’s easier to navigate a battlefield when both of your eyes are open.

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Notes and extra content:

–“Clashing with the kingdom of darkness and demons.” Sermon. September 15, 2024. Click here. 

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.