Passage of the Day: James 4: 7b [note underlined/bold portion in context] – 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
My Journal for Today: In today’s world, how often do we see or read of politicians, diplomats, or corporate officials wheeling and dealing, compromising for control, or manipulating others to get what they want? I dare say that it’s so commonplace that we’ve become desensitized to its occurrence. We almost expect our government representatives to be shady in their dealings. Maybe you’ve heard others say, as I have, “Oh, it’s just those politicians; what can you expect?”
Well, today’s admonishment from the Apostle James stands out in stark contrast to what we see in the world and what I’ve just described; and it does so in the context of James’ exhortation for Christians to HUMBLY submit to God, while resisting Satan’s dealings in the world. James MacArthur in today’s Strength for Today devotional, makes it clear that Christians can’t live with a foot in both camps, … Satan’s world and God’s kingdom. He posits that everyday our choices as Christians will either reflect Godly kingdom thinking or a Satanic world-view; and these choices certainly cannot reflect both at the same time.
When I read exhortations like the one from James in today’s devotional, I’m taken back to a time about 25 years ago when I was living squarely as an agent of Satan, a “devil’s advocate” by the way I thought, spoke, and lived. It’s like the words of Paul in Ephesians 2: 1 – 2 …
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2: 1 - 2… As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Yes, Satan’s spirit was clearly at work in my life years ago; and MacArthur’s words ring true of me in those days: “At that time, you had no power to resist the Devil and no desire to serve God, because you were slaves to Satan and his system.” (see Heb. 2: 14 – 15) But that all changed for me in April of 1983 when I humbly received Christ into my life and became a volunteer soldier in God’s kingdom rather than living for Satan’s world. And by making that faith choice and all the discipleship choices that I’ve made since then, my allegiance to serve God has replaced my alignment with Satan and his world. With God’s enabling grace, I now have the ability to wear God’s full armor in His everyday battle to stand against the wiles of Satan (see Eph. 6: 10 – 18 - linked); and I can expect victory in resisting Satan, no matter what he throws against me (see 1st Cor. 10: 13 and Rom. 8: 31). Yes, I’m still weak in my own flesh; but I now have God’s power from His grace to give me His strength (see 2nd Cor. 12: 9). That’s why the exhortation of James today holds God’s truth for the way I live in the world now. I pray that it does for you as well.
MacArthur is right when he reminds us today that Satan is strong; but we have a power in our lives as born-again Christians which is far stronger (see 1st John 4: 4); and our God’s calling to serve Him is His enablement to be victorious (see all of Romans 8; yes, linked here so that you can read all of it!). So, let us take James’ charge and move upward and onward to victory in Christ, Jesus!
My Prayer Today: Lord, I will walk in victory with You … TODAY. Amen
Showing posts with label resistence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resistence. Show all posts
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Friday, October 09, 2009
2009 – Day 282.Oct 9 – God’s Goads
Passage of the Day: Acts 9: 5 - 9 … 3 As he [Saul of Tarsus] journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
My Journal for Today: Today Chuck Swindoll in his devotional does a little exposition of the phrase “kick against the goads,” which is not a very common expression in our language. But apparently a “goad” was an implement a 1st century farmer used to drive oxen, which would cause pain if used to direct the oxen and thereby direct the large beasts to move. However, when the oxen resisted the “goading,” they often “kicked against goad,” causing even more pain as they resisted.
I think we often think that Paul’s conversion happened all at once on that road to Damascus; and certainly that was a crucial moment in Saul/Paul recognizing Christ as his Lord. However, as Swindoll correctly points out, the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth had to be a “goad” to the young “bull,” Saul of Tarsus, who had likely seen/heard Jesus preaching in the countryside of His day. And it’s likely that it was a “goad” to see the people follow this man, many of them claiming that Jesus was “The Messiah.” So, when Jesus asked why Saul was “kicking against the goads,” the Lord was likely referring to why Saul had been resisting Christ as his Lord so strongly.
And here is another place where my identification with Paul goes so deep. For many years, I fought to resist Christ, even though for several of these years I recognized the spiritual weakness in my life, seeking strength in many “isms” of the day. But finally, after pushing Christ away from me for years, I had my own “Damascus Road” experience; and like Paul, I became broken to the core, recognizing that this Jesus Christ was my only way to lasting peace and strength.
Swindoll correctly teaches, I believe, that when you encounter someone like a Saul of Tarsus or a Bill Berry, … a resistant seeker, it is best just to encourage such a one to study the life of Jesus. Because when such a person really sees the truth of Christ, they are overwhelmed with the reality of just WHOM this God-Man truly was and is.
Think of those who came to Christianity from atheism by examining thoroughly the facts about Christ. There was Lee Strobel, the author of The Case for Christ; or before him, Josh McDowell, who wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict, or even earlier, C.S. Lewis, who wrote the masterpiece of Christian apologetics, Mere Christianity. All of these brilliant men “kicked against the goads,” rejecting Christ as the Son of God for many years in their lives. But God pursued them and broke them; and they became some of our Lord’s greatest apologists and Christian teachers. And as I write this, though I may not be a C.S. Lewis, I truly identify with how these men had to become broken to self so that they could, like the Apostle Paul, find Christ as their Lord and Savior.
As I write this, I can only hope that any who read here are not “kicking against the goads,” fighting what Christ would have for the life of any of His children. Oh how God wants the best for His kids; and anytime we “kick against the goads,” we simply resist the wonderful and fruitful life God has for us. All He wants us to do is to surrender and quit “kicking against the goads.”
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I surrender all !! Amen
My Journal for Today: Today Chuck Swindoll in his devotional does a little exposition of the phrase “kick against the goads,” which is not a very common expression in our language. But apparently a “goad” was an implement a 1st century farmer used to drive oxen, which would cause pain if used to direct the oxen and thereby direct the large beasts to move. However, when the oxen resisted the “goading,” they often “kicked against goad,” causing even more pain as they resisted.
I think we often think that Paul’s conversion happened all at once on that road to Damascus; and certainly that was a crucial moment in Saul/Paul recognizing Christ as his Lord. However, as Swindoll correctly points out, the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth had to be a “goad” to the young “bull,” Saul of Tarsus, who had likely seen/heard Jesus preaching in the countryside of His day. And it’s likely that it was a “goad” to see the people follow this man, many of them claiming that Jesus was “The Messiah.” So, when Jesus asked why Saul was “kicking against the goads,” the Lord was likely referring to why Saul had been resisting Christ as his Lord so strongly.
And here is another place where my identification with Paul goes so deep. For many years, I fought to resist Christ, even though for several of these years I recognized the spiritual weakness in my life, seeking strength in many “isms” of the day. But finally, after pushing Christ away from me for years, I had my own “Damascus Road” experience; and like Paul, I became broken to the core, recognizing that this Jesus Christ was my only way to lasting peace and strength.
Swindoll correctly teaches, I believe, that when you encounter someone like a Saul of Tarsus or a Bill Berry, … a resistant seeker, it is best just to encourage such a one to study the life of Jesus. Because when such a person really sees the truth of Christ, they are overwhelmed with the reality of just WHOM this God-Man truly was and is.
Think of those who came to Christianity from atheism by examining thoroughly the facts about Christ. There was Lee Strobel, the author of The Case for Christ; or before him, Josh McDowell, who wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict, or even earlier, C.S. Lewis, who wrote the masterpiece of Christian apologetics, Mere Christianity. All of these brilliant men “kicked against the goads,” rejecting Christ as the Son of God for many years in their lives. But God pursued them and broke them; and they became some of our Lord’s greatest apologists and Christian teachers. And as I write this, though I may not be a C.S. Lewis, I truly identify with how these men had to become broken to self so that they could, like the Apostle Paul, find Christ as their Lord and Savior.
As I write this, I can only hope that any who read here are not “kicking against the goads,” fighting what Christ would have for the life of any of His children. Oh how God wants the best for His kids; and anytime we “kick against the goads,” we simply resist the wonderful and fruitful life God has for us. All He wants us to do is to surrender and quit “kicking against the goads.”
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I surrender all !! Amen
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