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Hello folks. Today's devotional is the longest one of them yet, as it covers the vast topic of spiritual warfare. This battle can be internal with ourselves, or external with dark events going on in the world. Take heart, as God has already won the battle on the cross.
Relevant clip: All hands, battle stations (Star Trek: The Next Generation reference)
Devotional below:
Relevant clip: All hands, battle stations (Star Trek: The Next Generation reference)
Devotional below:
Date | September 21, 2024 | Battle Stations: Spiritual Warfare |
Verse | James 1:14 (NIV): "But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed." 2 Peter 3:3 (NIV): "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." Jude 1:8-10 (NIV): "In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them." John 16:32-33 (NIV): "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Ephesians 6:11-13 (NIV): "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Isaiah 54:17 (NIV): "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord." |
Explanation | These six passages from the Bible provide insight into the concept of spiritual warfare, God's protection, and how Christians can engage in their personal battles against sin as well as broader societal issues.
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Societal Relevance | In terms of broader societal issues such as political indoctrination, Christian persecution, nuclear proliferation or wars in general, Christians can engage by being informed about current events, supporting organizations that align with their values, praying for leaders and those affected, using their voice to advocate for justice, and living a life worthy of the Gospel in order to share God's love with others. Ultimately, it is important for believers to remember they are not fighting alone, but have the support, strength, and protection of their Heavenly Father who has already overcome the world. By relying on Him and remaining steadfast in faith, Christians can make a positive impact on society while continuing to grow spiritually. For myself, it can be easy to fall into my internal spiritual battles. For instance, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can make me impulsive, and make the wrong decision. Also, as a young man, sexual urges such as jerking off can be a struggle. Life can be a battle between my fleshly desires and God’s spiritual desires for me. However, Jesus can be a cure. The more I pray to God and worship Him, the less I focus on my own desires. Another internal battle is being quick to judge others. For other people, they may struggle with greed and purchase expensive items outside of their means such as a new electric truck or a 400 HP motorcycle. Externally, the world is going through growing pains. Rampant greed is one example, where corporations no longer care for the consumer or the planet, and product quality has decreased. Persecution of Christians may also happen. On the mild side, a judo athlete named Nemanja Majdov got suspended from future Olympics for making the sign of the cross before his competition started. Another instance at the 2024 Olympics happened when a Brazilian surfboard athlete named João Chianca was almost barred from partaking in the Olympics due to his board bearing the image of Christ, and was only allowed to partake in the surfing events if he removed the image of Christ off of his board(s). On the worse side, there are millions of Christians in Asia and Africa which are being persecuted and killed for their faith. Another prime example is sexuality and violence portrayed in the media. Movies, music on the radio, and live events in 2024 display more promiscuity and even content related to demons compared to 50 years ago. Due to the rise in streaming, TV producers have the latitude to make raunchier or darker content. Darkness even occurs inside our churches. For instance, some churches either promote the gay agenda in church leadership, while others the complete opposite by spreading hateful rhetoric or use fear mongering tactics such as cults. Since October 7, 2023, there has been a war in the Levant when Hamas attacked Israel. On September 17-18, 2024, Israel intercepted pagers, planted bombs inside of electronic devices, and set off explosions in Lebanon, violating the Protocol on Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices ("Amended Protocol II") of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The explosions were targeted mainly at Hezbollah terrorists who used the pagers as a form of communication, but with any military operation, innocent civilians were also killed. As of the date of this devotional, the Middle East may be poised for an all out war. All we must do as Christians is to put on the armor of God, and trust in Jesus no matter what happens. Plus, according to the New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, the world is better off nowadays as of 2023 (the most recent full year) compared even a mere 50 years ago. Even with inflation hitting the Western world pretty hard, globally, people are less poor and infant mortality is at the lowest numbers with only 3.6% of children dying before the age of 5, over a million less deaths compared to 2016. However, there may be a point in time where our society reaches its peak, and begins a decline. But, as of 2023, the end has not happened yet. When the end does come, know this: God has already won the war. |
