What a great question to begin our day with

Romans 8:31-39

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

What a great question to begin our day with, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  The answer is easily found in your Bible about who is warring with your spirit, so let us flip some pages, in John 10:10a, we are told by Jesus, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”  You will find the thief identified in many places with many aliases, but in Ephesians 6:11 he is exposed, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”  Now the Spirit of God goes on to explain why we must put on the whole armor of God in the verses that follow and also tells us who is under the authority of the devil in verses 12-13, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”  How much effort and funds are being wasted in our battles, Liberal or progressive against Conservative and I must confess I’m a Conservative and like Abraham’s cousin Lot, I’m distressed at the ungodliness that is taking place all around me, but that is not the battle, if we believe what Scripture teaches. The battle is for the hearts and souls of those Jesus came to seek and to save, and remember love conquers all, not distain.

As you keep reading in Ephesians 6:14-20, you will not see suggestions on how to prepare for each day, you will see a battle plan about what to do, and you will be reminded to keep alert.  The apostle Peter gives us these words of encouragement in 1 Peter 5:6-9, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 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.”

I’ve heard it preached that the devil is a toothless opponent, but in my life I’ve experienced an evil deceiver who has made many attempts to steal and kill and destroy, me, my family, and my marriage.  He is a long way from being toothless!  He, like you, is a created being, and he has watched us humans for thousands of years, but he does not have the ability to know our thoughts, but does his best to influence them.

Now the great news must be told, and we will write more about it tomorrow, but let me share Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice