SEE DIFFICULTIES AND BATTLES BASED ON SCRIPTURAL TRUTH

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier."--2 Timothy 2: 1-4

 

Today's passage is from Paul's letter to Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man—and, by extension, every believer—to face difficulty as a good soldier. The military term "soldier" implies that we are in a battle.  And in fact, the combat started before Adam and Eve's lifetime

 

We see the first evidence when almighty God, who had created all the celestial beings, nevertheless allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter known as "demons") to rebel against Him. They established their own kingdom and waged war with the Lord.

 

Later we see this strife extend to all humankind.  In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted humankind to violate God's command by eating forbidden fruit.  Their disobedience corrupted humankind's innocence, and ever since, all human beings have been born with a nature bent away from the Lord—and with a profound need for a Savior.

 

Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict: by means of scripture. God's Word gives us everything we need to win—from offensive and defensive weapons (Ephesians 6: 10 -17) to the proper perspective on our adversaries' real identity: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12).

 

As Christians, when we encounter difficulties, problems and battles, our assurance of victory is based on the scriptural truth that we belong to God and that He is mightier than all evil—no matter what it seems like; victory is ours!   ^“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Jesus is the model that I look to when I stand my ground against the forces of evil.  I thank You that the weapons that I have are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds and that I am assured of victory because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world, in Jesus Name.  Amen.