As the rain and snow

“Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord… So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.” Judges 3:1-7

“God equipped me with strength...
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your right hand supported me,
    and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
    and my feet did not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
    and did not turn back till they were consumed…
For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
    you made those who rise against me sink under me.” Psalm 18:32-37,39

There are obstacles, enemies, and sticky situations stipulated by our Good Teacher to train us for war in this world. We can ignore them, and dull our senses to their danger. We can meddle with and in them, and pollute ourselves to the point we weaken resolve against harm. Or we can equip ourselves to wage war, to learn their tactics and implement the Lord’s power and skill to overcome and vanquish all that opposes His holy ways. (Luke 18:18)

Our coddling culture teaches softness and sloth, reliance on safety over warfare. It takes a warrior mind to understand the viciousness of our opposition, and a warrior’s passion to stay vigilant against it. It is vital we recognize the lords in our midst, the foreign affections that vie for ours, the wiles of those who would turn us to the lesser gods of earth, and attempt to mollify us with empty living. Once we have identified our Philistines, we must fix them in our sights, clad ourselves in armor, take up shield and sword, and battle with divine strategy. (John 10:10; Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Peter 5:8)

Is there insight, tactical equipment, or courage we lack? Ask, prepare, and act! Our Lord who trains and tests us supplies the skill and strength we need, and moves before and through us to subdue and consume.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples under me.” 144:1-2

Amen!

“And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast… And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.’

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?..’ And he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'” Mark 2:15-19,22-24,27

It can be frustrating to ask a question, and not get a clear answer, or be asked another question, or be redirected to a new angle of thinking. But Jesus would not entertain cursory pettiness, and would not dignify a picky inquiry by giving a straight answer. Every minute of His earthly ministry was strategic. This omniscient Savior knew what His onlookers really needed, and masterfully responded to their superficial questions with words that penetrated their superficial thinking and made them dig deeper. His word always does that. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

The pharisaical scribes and crowds were intrigued with Jesus, but did not know or understand Him. They concerned themselves with their ritualistic traditions and catching people in behavior that didn’t conform to their colloquial standards, so any aberration from their expectations brought desire for a pat explanation without heart inquiry. They focused on splinters and ignored planks, picked at gnats and were blind to camels. (Matthew 7:1-5; 23:23-24)

Where do we slip into the same surface treatment of Jesus’s work and teachings? Are we content with a ‘smooth follow’ and lip service, but fail to dig deep and get to know our Lord in profound ways that shake us from the inside out and upend our thinking? Are we satisfied with doing what appears correct to the masses, but unwilling to repent of long-held resentment, judgmental attitudes, internal hatred and rebellion, fear of true sacrifice? Do we even take the time to acknowledge we are sinners, in need of the Spirit’s new wine, subservient to another Master and Sovereign?

O Lord, open my eyes to broader vision, my heart to deeper desire, my mind to greater understanding of You and Your ways. Extract petty concerns and replace them with deep passion to be holy, and to exalt Your holy truth.

 

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men…’

They went into Capernaum, and he entered the synagogue and was teaching… as one who had authority, and not as the scribes…

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons…  And he healed many with various diseases, and cast out many demons.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:9-17,21-22,32,34-35

At the start of Jesus’s public ministry, God ordained that He be baptized, an outward identification with Him and visible anointing by the Holy Spirit. This carpenter’s son, announced by his cousin John, was set apart as God’s beloved Son with verbal affirmation. Immediately afterward was a short season of intense temptation, over which this Spirit-filled Sovereign triumphed. Tested and true, He then clarified His motivation and mission: ‘repent and believe the gospel, and set out to do God’s work.’ He filled His days in ministry, and began them with prayer. (Mark 1:4-8)

When the Lord calls us to follow and serve Him, He does not abandon us to flounder on our way. He adopts us as His own, anoints us with His Spirit, appoints us to a work, and entrusts to us all we need to do His bidding. We are fueled by daily time with Him. (Ephesians 1:14; 2:10; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3)

Then we begin to walk and serve. Call others alongside, those who will be transformed by gospel truth and be co-laborers. Begin to proclaim truth and let the power of God’s living and active word have its way with your audience. Faithfully demonstrate the gospel’s triumph over sin and its fallout. Do heartily what God gives you to do. And pray. Never fail to get alone, to realign yourself with your heavenly Master, to worship, to depend, to take on His mind and trust His direction and provision. Apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15:5; Colossians 3:23; Hebrews 4:12)

What prevents us from fruitful ministry? Reluctance due to divided allegiances, fear of discomfort, inadequacy, the expenditure of our time, means, and energy? What need we relinquish so we won’t hold back from following Jesus when He calls?

Lord, may all I do for Thee be marked by fruit that lasts, and Your endless glory. (John 15:16)

“Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“You, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
    and we are called by your name;
    do not leave us.” Jeremiah 14:9

“I will make you to this people
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
    but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
    to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 15:20

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18

“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

There are many life circumstances that force our being alone, isolated from other people, without human companionship. We also face decisions, struggles with temptation, specific roles in relationships where we must make individual choices and act alone. There are other times when we simply cannot get in contact with anyone we trust or want to confide in, and feel alone. But one of the greatest realities of the Christian life is that we are never truly alone. Our sweetest and best Companion hems us in behind and before, never leaves nor forsakes us, is in us and with us, to guide and chide, to comfort and console. He is Immanuel, God with us, our Lord Jesus, His abiding Spirit. And when He is with us, no one and no thing can stand victoriously against us. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 139:5; John 14:26-27; 16:8; Romans 8:31,37-39)

No matter how dark our way, how uncertain our future, how deep our pain, He is nigh. Whatever battle we fight, enemy we face, inadequacy we determine to overcome, He is our Warrior, Banner, and Shield. When we yearn for a companion, one who loves and understands us, He names us friend, and is available, personal, and loving. He delights in us, rejoices over us with singing, and bears our burdens alongside us. What a Savior, what a Friend! (Exodus 14:14; 17:15; Psalm 3:3; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 11:28-30; John 15:13,15)

Since we are never alone, we can walk confidently in His strength, speak courageously in His name, work energetically for His glory, fight the enemy in His power, lead others in His light. What difference is His presence, His constant companionship, making in our lives today? How do I want Him to permeate and influence my every day? (Ephesians 6:10-19)

“Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! lover of my soul;
friends may fail me, foes assail me,
he, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
even when my heart is breaking,
he, my comfort, helps my soul.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
he is with me to the end.”  ~J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1915)

Lord, may my words and actions give evidence to Your presence in me, and Your power  through me, to Your glory and praise.

“And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.’

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you make it a den of robbers.’

 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant, and they said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise”?’

In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.” Matthew 21:9-16,18-19

Expectant, happy crowds welcomed King Jesus into Jerusalem with shouts of ‘Hosanna,’ and the religious leaders stewed. Jesus saw corruption and dishonor in the temple, and chastised the money-changers’ as He overturned their tables. He healed the blind and lame who marveled at His kindness and power, and again, the priests and scribes were indignant ‘at the wonderful things He did.’ Then Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree. In all this emotion and reaction, what, if any, anger is good?

Righteous anger does not include sin, but is directed toward it. Jesus was vehement in His repulsion at corruption, greed, taking advantage of others, and fruitlessness, all aberrations of what God expects from His own, and He had complete control in directing and explaining His anger. Those who were stirred up and indignant against Jesus had different motives. Their anger was rooted in feeling threatened by Jesus, their fear at a possible shift of power, and maybe even jealousy, and they allowed these unrighteous passions to provoke them. (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26)

When our own self-interest awakens anger, it is difficult to stop the flow; we quickly become consumed with self-protection and pride that are hard to silence. We must determine what stokes our indignation, and rid of its cause if it is a sin itself. Offended? Ignore insults, and count yourself worthy of suffering as Jesus did for us. Desire for revenge? Let the Lord tend to it. Bitterness? Uproot it. Jealous and greedy? Be content with what you have. Lack of self-discipline with a hasty tongue? Keep quiet, listen, be thoughtful and slow to respond. (Proverbs 12:16; 15:1,18; 16:32; Isaiah 53:3-4,7; Romans 12:19; Galatians 5:23; Hebrews 12:15; 13:5; James 1:19-20; 4:1-2; 1 Peter 2:23)

Merciful Lord, expose and remove my triggers to indignation. Help me put it off, and instead put on gratitude and joyful praise. (Colossians 3:8,16)

“A tree from the forest is cut down
    and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
They decorate it with silver and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so that it cannot move.
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
    and they cannot speak;
they have to be carried,
    for they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of them,
    for they cannot do evil,
    neither is it in them to do good.

“There is none like you, O Lord;
    you are great, and your name is great in might.
Who would not fear you, O King of the nations?
    For this is your due;
for among all the wise ones of the nations
    and in all their kingdoms
    there is none like you.
They are both stupid and foolish;
    the instruction of idols is but wood!
Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish,
    and gold from Uphaz.
They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith;
    their clothing is violet and purple;
    they are all the work of skilled men.
But the Lord is the true God;
    he is the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes,
    and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

“Thus shall you say to them: ‘The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’

“It is he who made the earth by his power,
    who established the world by his wisdom,
    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
    and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
    and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
    and there is no breath in them.
They are worthless, a work of delusion...
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
    for he is the one who formed all things..;
    the Lord of hosts is his name.” Jeremiah 10:3-16

Inanimate wood, and the Maker of the forest. Decorations of metal, and the One who lines the earth with precious treasure. Mute and foolish, and the life-breathing, all-wise King. Jeremiah cannot help but contrast the gods of men with his God of all. Every effort of man has its source in what God provides. The Lord is the Author of life who redeems us from empty living. (Genesis 1:3,26-27; Job 28:1-6; John 14:6; Acts 3:15)

Who would choose a scarecrow over a Sovereign? We do so every day when we collect gods of worldly approval, accolades, and possessions, and by valuing what decays, rusts, or gets moth-eaten, over treasures in heaven. We espouse and trust ideologies and political platforms over God’s word that lasts forever. We idolize family members and people who will fail us over the One who loves without end and will never forsake us. (Psalm 103:11; Matthew 6:19-21; 10:35-36; 24:35; Mark 13:12; Hebrews 13:5)

My Ruler and Portion, captivate me with Your supremacy above every earthly idol, that I worship You alone. Yours, O Lord of hosts, is the greatness and dominion, the glory and majesty forever. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13)

“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.’

“Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” Matthew 26:3-16

Sandwiched between behind-the-scenes plotting and brazen betrayal is a beautiful, arresting picture, at the home of a leper, of an unnamed woman anointing Jesus (and even that was met with haughty criticism). Could there be a more stark contrast? Robed, crowned, self-important chief priests and elders planning stealth and murder, mirrored by one of Jesus’s own who rebelled against His call to serve humbly and be last, all wafted the stench of hatred and greed. Punctuating their wickedness was the lovely fragrance of expensive perfume, lavished by one whose name was not even important– all was love and giving and honor to her Savior.

In this day of caustic commentary, brazen dismissal of those who disagree with us, and greed of every sort– for things, for attention, for getting ahead, for approval– we can miss the loveliness of what occurs in the lowliest of places. We can get caught up in the complaining, the posturing, the rudeness to others, the want for what I want, and forget to stop and smell the perfume of those who are living not for any of these temporal and empty pursuits, but for Jesus. We can fail to be affected by their example, touched by their kindness, softened by their grace.

Where am I dismissing Jesus, and in prioritizing my plans, actually displacing His supremacy? In what daily habits do I esteem myself and my agenda more than Him? Are there those I avoid in order to ‘stay safe,’ or comfortable, and so miss out on honoring my Lord among them? What alabaster flasks of mercy and love am I hording?

Father, teach me to look deeply into the beauties You tuck into Your word. Help me make a difference in the midst of ugliness by pouring out Your fragrant, life-giving love. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

“As soon as… the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away,.. and those flowing down toward the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests… stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan… until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

“When the nation had finished passing over,.. Joshua said [as God commanded], ‘Take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you… a memorial forever.’

“And when… the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before… And Joshua set up [those twelve stones]. And he said to the people of Israel, ‘When your children ask in times to come, “What do these stones mean?” then you shall let your children know, “Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.” For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over,.. so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 3:15-4:1,5-7,18,20-24

The LORD had held back the flooding rushing waters of the Jordan so His people could pass over into the land they’d anticipated for a whole generation, the place of promise. And God wanted His miraculous act remembered, so He instructed that one from each tribe shoulder a large stone of remembrance. This was not to be an, “I heard someone say the harvest waters stopped,” but “God did this for me, for us!”

Certainly we are to share recountings of God’s faithful acts of forefathers and others we know, but it’s important we have our own stories, specific personal encounters with our living Lord, that stand as markers of places walked, lessons learned, and triumphs gained in our own lives.

Do I quote others’ messages or lessons from scripture more than I can speak my own? Do I prefer another’s bounty of insights into God’s word, from footnotes or sermons, more than I value digging for and discovering hidden treasure myself? Am I relying on what the Lord has taught someone else, or asking the Holy Spirit to give me discernment to understand His wisdom? Am I trying to build a faith-life with someone else’s stones, or collecting my own experiences and fulfilled promises? (Proverbs 2:1-11)

Where has God shown Himself mighty for me? Through what tempest or impossible relationship or circumstance has He made for me a miraculous way? What encounters and situations have taught me to fear Him and love Him more deeply? How am I strengthened, reinforced, or enlightened by His voice or help to me? Would I recount these, sing praises, and tell?

Lord, may my life be a living memorial of Your might and mercies, that others will know You are great and worthy of praise.

“This command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.'” Jeremiah 7:23-28

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 6:24; 12:30

As spectators, we can criticize and condemn the Israelites for being stubborn, for eschewing the God who graciously led and provided and did mighty works for them, for turning their rebellious backs on Him to craft their own worthless idols, for ignoring His commands. But before we feel too pompous, we must look to see how these accounts reveal our own similar tendencies, and where we do the same. We slide backward when we are not going forward with our Lord; there is no middle ground on devotion, commitment, or surrender.

We either obey, or we don’t. We can walk in only one direction at once. No matter how much we pride ourselves in multi-tasking, we can pay attention to only one conversation, one voice, at a time. We either yield to discipline or not, and can serve only one lord. God promises it will be well with us if He is our choice, and offers guidance with our every step, but it is up to us whether we stiffen our necks, or yield to His reins, whether our ears listen and heed, or ignore.

What will it be for me today? I begin with a one-way, one-lane road, and cannot make a U-turn. Whose voice will I follow? Whom will I serve? Do I believe that if I am not for God, I am against Him– in the way I speak, what I say, how I spend my time? Am I entertaining worldly affections that are hardening my heart toward God? (John 10:27)

Oh Father, incline my ears to listen to You, my heart to love You, and my feet to take Your road ever forward. Please prompt me away from thinking I can sit in the middle or on the side when it comes to Your truth, that I can flirt with foreign charms and put off devotion to You. You alone are worthy of my all.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, [when] I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn…”’

“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.  Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace [where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:24-30;37-43

In this life we will always have opposition. While certain with hope for ultimate freedom from it, we’re called to thrive in the world where we are hated, opposed, and taunted by the evil one without giving in, being taken over, or being corrupted. This is our school of sanctification. It might be easier if we could just coexist among our own kind (when that kind is at its best) and avoid any prickles or rub, but we can know in the midst, the Lord guards His own with His word, joy, and prayer. (John 17:12-18)

Once sin entered the world, tares have been sown among good wheat, and no man can escape their chafe and pain. We must be aware of the enemy’s motives and alert to his wiles. He is vicious, conniving, and spry, constantly working against all that is good to bring division and despair. In our day, we can readily recognize his intent to steal, kill, and destroy contentment, fellowship, cooperation, reputations, and peace. (Genesis 3:15-19; 1 Peter 5:8)

But we must also remember the equal truth, that Jesus came to bring life abundant, here and now. He gives grace to live alongside the enemy, without being shaken, in the field of public discourse, when confronted with opposition, diversity of conviction, and cruel oppression. Greater is Jesus than the prince of this world, and He is on our side. What encouragement and fortitude do these truths impart? (John 10:10; Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 4:4; 1 John 4:4)

Lord, make me holy by, and among, the weeds You allow in my life. May I shine and grow where You have sown me.