Skip to main content

May the Lord Protect You

            But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (II Thessalonians 3:3)

I tend to disagree with people when it comes to the subject of spiritual warfare. Some folks like to declare that Satan has attacked them. I suppose that in a general, vague way, they’re correct. He attacked Adam and Eve and that attack has produced the heartache of the word. He sends his minions out to attack people, and so it might be said that he is attacking them indirectly. But it seems to me that after his original attack on Adam and Eve, he could just as easily have sat back and never done another thing except play gin rummy with his minions, and we humans would do all that is necessary for us to destroy ourselves. Even if he and his minions are active  (and I believe they are,) I am simply not sufficiently influential to require much additional attention. The devil doesn’t have to make me do what I do. I do evil that I think up or desire, of my own free will, with no additional prodding.

This is not to say that there aren’t others who don’t face direct diabolical attention. Those who are spiritually influential get a lot of attention. Pastors, leaders, public speakers and even to some extent politicians and celebrities face more of the sort of spiritual warfare we tend to think of when we read today’s passage. I don’t think I’d even rate Wormwood’s apprentice. Why waste even inept manpower when it’s not needed?

This puts a different spin on today’s passage. This is what Pogo talked about when he said “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Sometimes even I laugh at my constant prayer request of “Wisdom, direction, and ATTITUDE” but I’ve lived with myself for long enough that I know that I am the enemy God needs most to protect me from. Nor is this a pity party on my part. It’s not a particularly bad day, and I’m not depressed (or at least no more than usual.) It’s just facing the reality that I am quite capable of doing myself harm, especially in the area of attitude. So are you. So is everyone else.

And so, my prayer to you this Friday morning is that God will protect you from the evil one – and most especially from the evil one that is you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more