Read Zechariah 3:1-10

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, God, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17:20-23, NLT)

In the realm of horror literature, few novels have left as lasting an impression on me as “Stinger” by Robert R. McCammon. Published in 1988, this science fiction horror masterpiece captivated my imagination when I first read it in the 1990s. McCammon, known for his blend of horror and Southern Gothic, crafted a tale that resonates deeply with spiritual truths.

“Stinger” unfolds in the dying town of Inferno, Texas, over an intense 24-hour period. Two alien spacecraft crash near the town: one carrying Daufin, a fugitive who possesses a young girl named Stevie Hammond, and the other bearing Stinger, a relentless bounty hunter. Stinger isolates the town with a force field and uses replicants—deadly copies of townspeople—to hunt Daufin, sowing fear and division among the inhabitants.

The parallels between Stinger’s tactics and Satan’s methods as described in Zechariah 3:1-10 are striking. Just as Satan stands ready to accuse Joshua the high priest, Stinger seeks to divide and conquer the people of Inferno. Both use isolation and accusation as weapons, attempting to separate their targets from sources of strength and unity.

Stinger’s force field mirrors Satan’s efforts to cut us off from God and each other, while his use of replicants echoes Satan’s deceptions, making us question who we can trust. The fear and division Stinger spreads reflect Satan’s attempts to fracture our communities and relationships.

Yet, just as God rebukes Satan and restores Joshua in Zechariah, the people of Inferno must come together to overcome Stinger’s threat. This unity in the face of a common enemy reflects Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-23, where He asks for believers to be united as He and God are one.

In our lives, we face similar challenges. Satan seeks to isolate us, accuse us, and divide us from our communities of faith. Like the characters in “Stinger,” we must recognize these tactics and stand united against them, clinging to God’s promise of redemption and restoration.

The story of Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3:1-10 powerfully illustrates God’s grace and redemption. Joshua stands before the angel of the Lord, clothed in filthy garments, symbolizing sin and impurity. Satan stands ready to accuse, but before he can, the Lord rebukes him, declaring Joshua “a burning stick snatched from the fire” (Zechariah 3:2). The Lord commands that Joshua’s filthy clothes be replaced with clean garments, signifying the removal of sin and restoration of righteousness.

This scene vividly demonstrates God’s grace. Despite our sins and failures, God offers us redemption and restoration, clothing us in righteousness based not on our merit but on His love and mercy.

In “Stinger,” the townspeople of Inferno must unite to face the alien threat, their collective action crucial to survival. Similarly, as believers, we must stand together to resist attempts to divide us. Jesus’ prayer emphasizes the importance of unity among believers, that we may be one as He and God are one, so the world may believe in God’s love and mission.

Unity in Christ is our strongest defense against divisive tactics. When we stand together in faith, love, and truth, we can overcome the schemes that seek to divide us and fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Unity in Christ is our strongest defense against divisive tactics.

PRAYER
Lord, unite us in Your love and truth, that we may stand firm against schemes to divide and isolate us. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.