Even Demons Believe

Scripture: You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19

Observation: The demons believe there is one God. What does this say about a "post modern" world where an ever increasing number of people believe there is NOT one God? They believe there is no God, or many gods, or a convoluted god of anger who seeks to destroy. What does it say about people I meet, work with, and talk to every day who officially have less faith than demons?

Application: James is trying to make point that faith is just a start - that we also need to do God's work, because even demons "believe" but they act in opposition to God.

But ... this means demons believe. I am surrounded by people who don't even believe at all. In this area of the world, nearly half of everyone do not believe God exists, and many others do not believe that there is a definitive "one God" but rather that there are multiple potentially valid belief systems to be explored.

Demons believe in God. The majority of people do not. How hopeless is it, then, to be a light in this part of the world? How hopeless is it to realize that, if I were to talk about God to a demon, I would have a better chance of finding common ground for the conversation than if I were to talk to my co-workers about God?

Yet we are not told to go and do easy stuff. We are told to go and make disciples. We are to tell the gospel. We are to bear witness by our words and actions. We are to show mercy and kindness and love. We are to speak truth and to never deny or be embarrassed by that truth. We are to be a light in the darkness. We are to spread salt to preserve while also enriching. We are to stand on the hill and bear witness. We are to baptize. We are to live by the law. We are to exhibit faith. We are to make our bodies a living sacrifice.

And because we know there is one God - the God of Abraham, Yahweh, Jehovah Jireh, Abba - creator of heaven and earth, who gave his son Jesus to die on the cross and be resurrected to heaven for the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation of all mankind ... because we know there is one God, we know that all we have to do is what he has asked, and it is up to him to do the rest with the unbelievers around us.

Prayer: Lord, may thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.