September 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Herod's murder of the babies was not an isolated crime. Thirteen centuries earlier, the Pharaoh of Egypt had committed a similar cruelty. The two attacks originated in the same mind—the devil's. And both attacks were aimed at the deliverer of God's people.

Deep in his evil being, Satan knew that the Liberator was going to come. He ordered the murder of the boy babies because he wanted to stop the liberation movement. Pharaoh and Herod were the devil's pawns, although they had interests of their own to defend.

Notice how Matthew 2 says that King Herod was disturbed. His throne began to wobble. (He had already killed a few others whom he considered a danger to his throne.) Herod was "disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." Those who supported his throne also began to feel insecure. Their insecurity was rooted in the devil's insecurity. The devil is insecure because he is afraid. He has only a short time, and he knows it. His doom is sure, and although he does not accept it, he is aware of it.

Therefore the devil is full of panic.

Christians don't panic. They may be impatient or worried, but they don't panic. Faith is the refusal to panic. Panic strikes a person when she loses control, when the bottom drops out of her world, when everything suddenly seems lost.

By faith we know that no matter what happens, the worst cannot happen. Even in the most trying circumstances, we have something to fall back on. The throne of God stands forever. God's plan of salvation is sure. Troubles, yes; panic, no.

Panic gripped Pharaoh and Herod. The devil's servants lose control when the Liberator comes. They slide into a bottomless pit. But God's people have a deep-seated optimism even in the worst trial. Everything and everybody is under control.

REFLECTIONS

What can you take from this devotional that will help you the next time you're facing a potential "panic" situation?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.