It is too easy for me to feel that my struggle to be Christ-like and to serve Him well involves just two opponents. I am all too aware of the opposition I receive from myself. Do I really want to discipline my tongue, my mind, my actions to be completely loving and pure? The answer sadly is sometimes "no". In fact there is a part of me that reacts to the word "discipline" and is more attracted to words like "relax" and "later". So like the cartoonist of another generation wrote: "we have seen the enemy, and it is us." (Hmm, not sure of the author or if I got that exactly correct. However the point is clear, right?)
Then of course I am aware of the enemy I see every day. The cultures we live in constantly beckon us to lust (evil desire) for more - more money, more things, more experiences, more, more, more. And while many of these things are quite fine in moderation, they can pull us away from those things which are most important. Then there are those things offered to us which are just plain evil - from which we need to run.
What I too often forget, because the enemy is sly and unseen, that I am battling with spiritual forces. Like you I know this, but I tend to forget. Therefore I can underestimate the opposition and too easily believe that this battle is mostly with my own weaknesses and sin. Nope, must not do that. I must remember the truth of Ephesians 6 - we are wrestling (or should be) with unseen opponents who do not want us to be loyal to Christ or live in obedience to our Heavenly Father.
Scripture is clear that we have an enemy who is like a prowling lion. (I Peter 5:8) So resist him, standing firm in the faith. He would love for you and me to fall into one of his damaging traps. (I Timothy 3:7; II Timothy 2:26)
So Jesus prays to the Father for us: "that you protect them from the evil one." John 17:15 And He taught us to pray: "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." So may we pray. And so I need to remind myself: the spiritual battle is not just with the world around me and my own tendency to sin. No, I am being tempted by the same one who tempted my Saviour. And with the Saviour's help and the power of the Spirit, I can fight victoriously. And so can you.
Then of course I am aware of the enemy I see every day. The cultures we live in constantly beckon us to lust (evil desire) for more - more money, more things, more experiences, more, more, more. And while many of these things are quite fine in moderation, they can pull us away from those things which are most important. Then there are those things offered to us which are just plain evil - from which we need to run.
What I too often forget, because the enemy is sly and unseen, that I am battling with spiritual forces. Like you I know this, but I tend to forget. Therefore I can underestimate the opposition and too easily believe that this battle is mostly with my own weaknesses and sin. Nope, must not do that. I must remember the truth of Ephesians 6 - we are wrestling (or should be) with unseen opponents who do not want us to be loyal to Christ or live in obedience to our Heavenly Father.
Scripture is clear that we have an enemy who is like a prowling lion. (I Peter 5:8) So resist him, standing firm in the faith. He would love for you and me to fall into one of his damaging traps. (I Timothy 3:7; II Timothy 2:26)
So Jesus prays to the Father for us: "that you protect them from the evil one." John 17:15 And He taught us to pray: "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." So may we pray. And so I need to remind myself: the spiritual battle is not just with the world around me and my own tendency to sin. No, I am being tempted by the same one who tempted my Saviour. And with the Saviour's help and the power of the Spirit, I can fight victoriously. And so can you.
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