Devotion: Wage War

Wage war

Life will be War:

Throughout scripture, and particularly in the New Testament, we find the Christian life compared to warfare, and we are told to make war on our sin and against the world.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Hebrews 12:12 (Bonus – Read verses 1-12)
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

2 Timothy 2:3-5
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

We know though that where radical muslims and Christians many years ago took this literally, Scripture clearly states that this should not be how our war is waged.

1 Peter 3:15

but in your hears honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (Bonus - read through verse 17)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestly against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

Mark 1, Luke 4

·      After Jesus is tempted, he sets the stage for his ministry. First he speaks in the synagogues, then heals, then casts out a demon. Right away he establishes that the order he will bring is not the military power that the Jews had been looking for.

We must train:

Worldview Faculty member Dell Cook works at a Christian school in North Carolina, and he also coaches football there. During my first summer on staff with Worldview, I asked him why he coached, as I knew it took up a lot of time to be good at it, and I knew Dell wasn’t someone to spend time like that without forethought. He replied by saying that he taught football because it taught young men principles of war. Students needed to know that in life there are some things that aren’t going to be handed to you, and that you will have to fight for with everything that you have because not everyone will win. Football teaches them that there are some things in life that you fight for, and you train for. That there undertakings which are insurmountable when you start, but by training, discipline, and teamwork you can accomplish greater things that you ever could on your own. And there are things you can’t expect, but you can train to be the sort of person that overcomes.

Application:

·      Are you waging war? Are you taking steps in your life to actively combat sin and grow closer to Jesus?

·      How does scripture say that we overcome our sin? What is needed in order to do that?

·      Are you seeking to listen to the Holy Spirit and then act on those convictions? What is one way you did that this week?

·      Are you doing things that uphold and reinforce the fruits of the spirit?

Our tendency is to make a list of do’s and don’ts, but the important thing to remember is that growing in the Christian walk is more closely affiliated with who we become in honor, integrity, and the fruits of the spirit rather than having a checklist or numerous boundaries that keep us “safe” but never force us to think or trust in the daily provision of Christ. 

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This is a devotional that I lead with students this past week at Worldview at the Abbey. Students participate in daily devotionals usually lead by local pastors or leaders within the community that I sometimes have the opportunity to fill in for. I hope this can be an encouragement to you all.