Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.” Revelation 12:10 NET

Satan is the accuser. His mission is to keep man away from God. His methods are many, his wiles devious.

The very word “Devil” means an accuser, a slanderer. While purporting to help and point out a more advantageous way to get through life, the prince of demons is setting a trap.

He accuses man before God. “See, he does righteousness for what he can get out of You, not for Your sake.”

He accuses man to himself. “You are really nothing more than dust, a worm, lowdown scum.”

He accuses God before man. “And you think the Almighty could really love you?!”

He accuses man to man. “It’s a conspiracy! They’re out to get you.”

Around the table of the Lord, the shrillness of Satan’s slander is still. The artificial lilt in his friendly voice fades away.

Eating the bread and drinking the cup reinforce our knowledge of God as just and justifier of men.

Communion binds us together in love and sacrifice.

Our repeated thanksgiving drives home our desire for the one great good, the presence of God.

Replaying the scene of Golgotha softens the heart as we see the divine mercy.

Just as Judas left the first Supper, we note at our gathering today the absence of the one who put it in his heart to do evil.

The accuser has been thrown down.

The salvation of God has come.

— by J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net