NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT!

 

Saturday, November 22, 2025

 

NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT!

 

Eph 6:11-13

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

          A full suite of armor stands just outside the door of a knife store in our local mall. It is shiny, looks heavy, and has a price tag of over $3,000 dollars! It is built for a fight.

 

          The Devil never takes no for an answer! We can never declare ourselves the complete victor because he never gives up. Our personal struggle will continue until this life is over even though we are assured of a victory at the end. We can never relax our guard against him.

 

          Jesus is the captain of our salvation according to Hebrews 2:10. The word captain is the Greek word archegos which means “a chief leader.” He is the one who will put the enemy to flight. Our own safety requires that we follow Him closely and never venture too far from His leadership.

 

Rom 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Lord, today we venture forth, clanging our armor with us. We are both cautious and confident because you are our great Captain. AMEN

 

CAPTURED BY HIS LOVE AND MERCY!

 

Friday, November 21, 2025

 

CAPTURED BY HIS LOVE AND MERCY!

 

Ps 139:1-5

139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

 

          This is a powerful image! In fact, my mind pictures a laboratory rat caught in a maze. He is led inescapably to a destination known only by his captor. In this case, however, the captor is not a tormentor but a benevolent guard and guide. He is the Lord of Glory! He is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. His ways are above our ways. As the 6^th verse says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

 

          I have often struggled to find a way out of His will because I think it to be in error. Surely, He can’t want me to endure what I am currently enduring! Problems press in on the left and troubles join upon my right hand. I can’t go back, and I can’t climb up. The only way left to me is forward to the fearful unknown. I do not perceive his love and mercy until I reach the appointed place of peace. It is then I see His handiwork and understand His protection and provision.

 

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

By Fanny Crosby

 

All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate'er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate'er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

 

Dear Lord, forgive my struggle against your efforts to lead me. I am ignorant of what is best for me and too foolish to submit. I have learned that your way is best but learning that has not been easy nor is it easy yet. Thank you for trapping me in your love and mercy. AMEN

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Thursday, November 20, 2025

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Ps 71:5

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

 

          Hope looks back! The Psalmist was now an old man. Twice he mentions it (See Psalm 71: 9 and 18). When you are discouraged and worried, look back and count your blessings. Remind yourself of the faithfulness of the Lord.

 

          Hope sings! Verses 22 and 23 indicates that singing is done in spite of the “great and sore troubles” mentioned in verse 20. I am reminded of Paul and Silas singing in the dark dungeon while their hands and feet were fastened on the stocks. What power that produced! Acts 16 tells us that their hands and feet were loosed and there was a great earthquake that opened the prison doors. Ah! Let’s sing!

 

          Hope looks to the future! The psalmist looked to the future and moved from "You are my hope" (v. 8) to "I will hope continually" (v. 14; see Ps 36:5; 47:10 ). The future is secure when Jesus is your Lord. The word translated "hope" in verse 14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments. If we trust God, then the trials of life will work for us and not against us.

 

         A. W. Tozer once said: “We can look backward in time until the dim past vanishes, then turn and look into the future until thought and imagination collapse from exhaustion and God is at both points, unaffected by either.”

   

Ps 20:7

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

 

Dear Lord, we have seen your mighty hand in the past and we are given hope for the future. Let us now look up and see your righteousness reaching to the heavens. AMEN