Battle Directions

I Pet. 5:8-9

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. 

What an exhortation! Get ready for the battle. The enemy, the devil, is a fierce opponent. He won't take it easy on you. He wants to take you down Not only take you down, He wants to devour you. He has an appetite for Christians. They are his candy! But we need more than just being alert, we must resist and be firm in the faith. So when a temptation comes, say NO! Immediately! Make no excuses or rationalizations, just say NO. Give no allowances for our flesh, our weaknesses, our fleshly memories. Don't fall backwards. Resist. The flesh is like a bad habit. It lurks around testing you where you are weakest. But in the strength of Jesus we can say No. We can walk in a different way. We can walk in the way of our faith! We can fortify ourselves in the Word and grow in Jesus in and through His grace and power, we can stand strong and true. 

Is it a comfort to know that fellow believers around the world are suffering? Perhaps it would be if we were suffering too. But even in America, Christians are beginning to suffer. Case in point the school shooting in Oregon. "Are you a Christisn? Then in 1 second you will meet your God." And it was over. Case in point, Saeed, an American in an Iranian prison. Abuse, beatings, internal injuries with no end in sight. It makes us long for heaven and shows us the heinousness of the flesh and this worldly system. But God promises, And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. There is an end in sight! Heaven awaits! Our citizenship will finally be realized. No more alien, pilgrim, and sojourner!

Father,

Teach me to stand firm in the faith and to say No to temptation. Be with believers around the world and in America. Comfort the hurting hearts, and if you will, release Saeed. Bring him home to his family.

In Jesus name,

Amen