The Bully

 

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:17-20 ESV).

 

As we come to the end of our “hopscotch” look at Romans, I want to end with an incredible promise of God. Read the end of our reading for today. The Apostle Paul says, The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (v. 20).  Before he gives this promise he encourages us to stay away from people who cause division and strife. He knows how difficult this is with our propensity to follow such people. He calls us to examine these divisive people and be wise. He urges us to gravitate toward that which is good and innocent. Paul knows the challenge in doing this consistently. So, he then tells us how God will end it all. Satan, the greatest bully of all time, will meet his end being rushed by Jesus under our feet!

 

No one likes a bully. Did you know that the ancient meaning of bully was “a fine chap”? My how that has changed through the intervening centuries! The infernal bully Satan was originally “a fine chap.” One of the highest ranked angels, he grasped for more power and toppled off his pedestal. Unfortunately for humanity he landed in a garden where he continued his career as a bully: “one who is cruel to others who are weaker.” Job was a victim of Satan’s attacks (Job 1-2). King David fell to Satan’s trickery (1 Chronicles 21:1). We are all his targets. Peter, warned by Jesus that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat (Luke 22:31), warns us: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). That’s hardly the work of “a fine chap.”

 

The great good news is that when Eve pointed her accusing finger at the serpent, God told him that her offspring, Jesus Christ, would crush his head. Though Satan is a bully, Paul encourages believers by saying, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Find hope and encouragement that all of this world’s confusion and inequity is soon to be met with the final victory of Jesus over our enemy, the Devil. He will be crushed under our feet once and for all. Oh what a day that shall be! Until then… be wise and gentle!