Sometime around 65 A.D., the apostle Peter wrote: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8,9.
Nothing has changed. The devil is still trying to devour Christians, and we still need to resist him. So many of my Christian friends are under attack. Dear friends, the devil attacks those people who are a clear threat to his cause – people who are trying their best to walk in the light.
Thankfully, God has given us everything we need in order to win the battle. “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Ephesians 6:10-18.
If we are trying to do what’s right, we can count on the fact that persecution will come. “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. It’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN. It can come from any direction. Is there an area of your life where you think you are strong? Do you think “I’ve got this!”? Be careful, because that very place is where you may be the most vulnerable. The devil would like nothing better than to use your strong points for your downfall. If it’s not possible for a Christian to fall out of grace with the Lord, then why is Satan such a threat to the Christian? Yes, it is possible for a Christian to fall, but the good news is that Satan cannot MAKE us fall. We can give in if we choose, but if we do, it’s our choice.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39.
Be strong, my dear Christian friends. Keep your armor on and it will be okay. <3
