June 10, 2014
One of my favorite scenes from a classic movie is a child solemnly telling his mother to be careful on her first day of work because, “It's a jungle out there.” It’s more of a jungle out there than most people realize.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6.12)
Few Bible passages are as sobering as this one. There is a battle that rages, and the enemy is unseen and well organized; thus making the situation more threatening. It’s the ultimate of guerrilla warfare. But, it’s also imperative that two extremes be avoided concerning the great cosmic battle believers are locked in. The first is to overemphasize the enemy. Formidable as our foes are, believers are not pawns in the hands of omnipotent forces. Far too many people have shirked personal responsibility under the guise of “the devil made me do it”. But, the other extreme seems equally dangerous. To deny or diminish the enemy is to make ourselves more vulnerable to his schemes.
If there truly is an unseen battle, orchestrated and carried out by an intelligent enemy, then it is of the utmost priority to be vigilant and battle-ready. Thus the directive to “take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6.13) There is little point to battle readiness if an enemy does not exist, but extreme peril awaits those who are unprepared if an enemy does exist.
An important battle perspective is readiness, while avoiding the fanaticism of either marginalizing or overemphasizing our enemy. Jesus’ admonition to “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10.16) seems especially applicable to the cosmic battle.
It may be “a jungle out there”, but “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4.4), and; “take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33) The battle is real, and the enemy strong; but the victory is readily available to those who wisely wage war with the full armor of God. Having done so today, my prayer and desire for us is the same as Paul’s: to “stand firm”
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6.12)
Few Bible passages are as sobering as this one. There is a battle that rages, and the enemy is unseen and well organized; thus making the situation more threatening. It’s the ultimate of guerrilla warfare. But, it’s also imperative that two extremes be avoided concerning the great cosmic battle believers are locked in. The first is to overemphasize the enemy. Formidable as our foes are, believers are not pawns in the hands of omnipotent forces. Far too many people have shirked personal responsibility under the guise of “the devil made me do it”. But, the other extreme seems equally dangerous. To deny or diminish the enemy is to make ourselves more vulnerable to his schemes.
If there truly is an unseen battle, orchestrated and carried out by an intelligent enemy, then it is of the utmost priority to be vigilant and battle-ready. Thus the directive to “take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6.13) There is little point to battle readiness if an enemy does not exist, but extreme peril awaits those who are unprepared if an enemy does exist.
An important battle perspective is readiness, while avoiding the fanaticism of either marginalizing or overemphasizing our enemy. Jesus’ admonition to “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10.16) seems especially applicable to the cosmic battle.
It may be “a jungle out there”, but “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4.4), and; “take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33) The battle is real, and the enemy strong; but the victory is readily available to those who wisely wage war with the full armor of God. Having done so today, my prayer and desire for us is the same as Paul’s: to “stand firm”
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 7:44 AM
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