NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT

 

Friday, November 13, 2026

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 stood just outside the door of a knife store in the mall at Wichita Falls. It was shiny, looked heavy, and had a price tag of over $3,000 dollars! It was 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

 

Thursday, November 12, 2026

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 [full of wonder] for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

          I have often struggled to find a way out of His will because I thought it to be in error. Surely, He can’t want me to endure what I am 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

 

NOT EXPEDIENT

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

NOT EXPEDIENT

1 Cor 10:23

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. KJV

1 Cor 10:23

…not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. AMP

          In all seven occurrences of the word “expedient” in the New Testament it is translated from the Greek word sumphero which, curiously, means “to collect together.” Think of it this way. Of all the things on the table from which you might choose, which is better?

          In John 11:50, Caiaphas declared, regarding Jesus, that it was expedient (the best of all things on the table) that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not. He probably had no idea how right he was!

          Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was expedient or better for him to go away [die and return to heaven] so that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, could be given to us. While He was “in the flesh” he was local but in the form of the Spirit He could indwell and be with every believer. We must agree that is better.

          Paul said in 2 Cor. 8:10 that it is expedient or better to gather the offering to send to the poor saints in Jerusalem. Systematic giving always garners more than casual or haphazard giving that is emotionally driven. Yes, that is better.

          Paul says again in 1 Cor 6:12 and 10:23 that grace has made most things “lawful”, but all things are not expedient. Essentially, he is saying that just because you CAN does not mean that you SHOULD. Of all the lawful things on the table expediency gathers together what is best and chooses that one thing.

          Obeying the law is much easier than making discretionary choices. If it is unlawful or sinful, just don’t do it. But what if it is lawful but not wise? Ah, that requires the gathering of good information. I find that, without complete understanding of all the aspects of a possible choice, I must make that choice based upon the information that I have and leave the consequences to God.

          Of all the choices presented to us today we must gather together those opportunities and choose what is better. Happy sorting!

Dear Lord, help me to make wise choices. AMEN