Martin Luther compares the devil to a chained dog:
Why should you
fear? Why should you be afraid? Do you not know that the prince of this
world has been judged? He is no lord, no prince any more. You have a
different, a stronger Lord, Christ, who has overcome and bound him.
Therefore let the prince and god of this world look sour, bare his
teeth, make a great noise, threaten, and act in an unmannerly way; he
can do no more than a bad dog on a chain, which may bark, run here and
there, and tear at the chain. But because it is tied and you avoid it,
it cannot bite you. So the devil acts toward every Christian. Therefore
everything depends on this that we do not feel secure but continue in
the fear of God and in prayer; then the chained dog cannot harm us. But
this chained dog may at least frighten him who would be secure and go
ahead without caution, although he may not come close enough to be
bitten.
The person who is secure is trusting in himself and rushes
forward without caution. Learn the lesson of Colossians 2:15 "He (Jesus)
disarmed the (demonic) rulers and authorities and put them to open
shame, by triumphing over them in the cross" Get this picture of Satan
and his demons in your head and do not be afraid.
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