Though from a line of soldiers, I have never enlisted in the military. True my father’s generation considered it a reasonable duty. Mine, well I am a product of the 60’s and raised in the 70’s so not enlisting was an afront to the system. By the 1980’s, military service was passe’ as the cold war continued. Not until the 90’s did one realize that military service was an honor and not a duty. Today our military is lauded as heroes as daily they put their lives on the line for us. My grateful thank you to our servicemen and servicewomen.
Today’s post is a continuation of an earlier post (read: Learning to Press).
I have found the secret to obtaining the prize daily! It begins at 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” This ALL includes times of temptation. there is no other way to get through them. Verse 8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If you watch throughout the day, you will be aware of those time when the Devil has approached you with temptation, and if you brushed them off that’s when he’s got you. The greater attack will come when you least expect it and then it’s over. You are his lunch!
Now to verse 9, “Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Ahem, you are NOT the center of the universe. The same temptation that you are afflicted with is the same that another brother or sister in Christ is rising above. It is at this time that obedience and submission to God should be first and foremost. Not satisfying your flesh, which should be dead. another post for that.
Finally in verses 10 and 11, “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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” The only way you become perfect, stablished, strengthened and settled is to submit and allow yourself to be purified by God’s fire. He only allows the temptation in order for you to become a stronger Christian by calling out to him for strength. And the only way you can become a stronger Christian is to be purified. One cannot withstand temptation while full of their dead self. God cannot get the glory he is due while Christians are full of themselves.
That’s the clincher! God will get glory from you one way or another. It is so much easier to submit and allow yourself to give him the glory while being purified, than to have him wrangle it out of you. Daily have an about face to the Devil and towards God!
Grace and peace, James
*Scripture from ESV, Crossway Publishing, 2001