One day I met a man behind a bush who was so very afraid. I asked him why he was hiding and what he was afraid of and he said, “The devil, the devil is prowling around and trying to devour me!” I looked at the man and asked him one more simply question, “Who IS He Who lives inside you and calls you friend?”
When do you resist?
What do you resist?
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
The devil Only wants you to break the law if it will cause you guilt, condemnation, shame or cause someone else to stumble by seeing it.
He knows all too well you are no longer under the law if you are “in Christ” but he doesn’t want you to know it! The guilt, condemnation and shame you feel is like a negative lighthouse drawing people away from Jesus and God’s Love – Not towards it! No one wants to live with shame and guilt and that is why the new covenant was put in place!
As long as you are shame based – you can Never be God Loving! This is the message of the cross!
So what can be done about these attacks:
1) “Resist him”- there is now therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Last I checked Jesus didn’t come in through a revolving door – He came in to stay!
2) “Stand firm in the Faith” – Faith is what you cant see! I cant see the deliverance of the Lord that is just waiting on me to relax and trust Him – but its there! Faith is Not a list of rules it’s a position on the heart! REST!
3) “The family of believers” – Love your fellow believer who is going through that shame and condemnation period and Don’t judge them! Let them see the Peace and Faith that helped you to see the Love and Freedom of Christ!
Jesus! – He is Not about the law – He Is All About The Love!
Look to the cross – the ultimate symbol of Love!
Boy! Isn’t that the truth? But, the devil is a liar!!!
Thank you Cindy! Yes he is a liar and he wants us to think we are beyond God’s Love and that the law matters in our relationship to God – This is the crucial point of Grace!
Love is what it’s all about. That personal, intimate relationship with Jesus I’m always talking about. Nothing can come between that, not the devil, not even me.
You always seem to know when I need to hear something. Thank you. Thank God for His love, grace and the message of the barren cross.
YES! Brother that Love kept Him on the cross and that Love will bring us Home!
Thank you so much for sharing and for your constant encouragement! God has used you and your poetry in my life in so many ways and I thank God upon every remembrance of you!