Thursday. 16 March 2023
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – I Peter 5:8 NKJV
Just like angels, demons spend a lot of time studying us, our habits, patterns, and responses to circumstances. Unlike angels who do this in order to better assist us, demons do it so that they can know what exactly our weaknesses are and how they can use them to attack and destroy us. When it comes to the church, we know that one of their weapons of choice is offense. When a person is offended, there are no limits to the fire and rage that can be stored up within them. The level of carnage they can impute on the church when enraged can run deep and leave long lasting scars. The enemy knows that once he has sown discord, the rest is pretty much history, unless the first person sees the matter for what it is and chooses to end it at its inception.
Every and anyone can be subject to offense, it’s part of our earthly experience. When it does come, one must ask themselves, “What is the end goal here and is it worth the destruction and pain that it’s intended to cause?”. It’s surprising what happens when a person makes a decision right there and then, to not walk into the trap that satan has set for them. The problem is, as believers, we don’t look at each other as souls and value what that means to GOD. If we did, we would tread carefully when it comes to sowing bad seeds in one another, and in the church, and would rather choose to respond in love and peace.
“You have obeyed GOD’s true message. As a result, you have become clean inside, and now you can really love other believers. So continue to love each other very well, with honest thoughts.” 1 Peter 1:22 EASY. We come to church ever so often and hear the pure Word of GOD which cleans, purifies, and transforms us and when we are clean inside, our thoughts, words and intentions become pure. That means, when someone harms or offends us, we choose to think the best about them and not rush to the worst conclusions. The Church belongs to our LORD Jesus Christ and He is coming back for a spotless Church. So if we as the Church are still carrying bitterness and unforgiveness towards our fellow brothers and sisters, we would do well to start taking stock of our heart condition and stop allowing the devil to deceive us and to have such free reign over us. A quick lesson is that, if it is negative, harms, and incites wrath within, it is from the devil and if we act on those feelings, we have just handed ourselves over to the adversary.
“For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” Ephesians 6:12 GNT. As hard a pill as it is to swallow, people are not our enemies. They are simply being used as pawns in a bigger plan to destroy what GOD is building. Believers need to be wise and start responding accordingly. We have one common enemy, and it’s time we understood that.
As hard a pill as it is to swallow, people are not our enemies
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