Glory Seed Devotionals, 2016: Year of the Blessing
The armor from God…
Shalom!
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3–5, NKJV, emphasis mine)
This morning when I read “according to the will of our God and Father” I suddenly realized Jesus makes it possible for us to escape the evil abounding in our worlds and while God protects us from it He does not eliminate our exposure to it. Paul gives us this assurance. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will NOT allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NKJV, emphasis mine)
I believe it is possible for us to run from evil but it is impossible for us to hide from it. At some point in our lives it becomes necessary for us to stop running turn around and meet evil face-to-face not on its terms but on God’s terms using the “tools” He gives us, again Paul explains. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13, NKJV)
More than 40 years ago after renewing my commitment to God and feeling invincible I challenged the devil to a duel, I lost. It took 2 years for me to get back to where I was. I still remember that experience as if it were yesterday because it taught me two important lessons we all need to learn. First, do not challenge the devil to a duel because that puts us on his terms and besides we don’t need to he’s good at it without our help. And second the armor of God not only equips with for minor skirmishes but also for major conflicts. And its strength is subject only to our faith.
Tomorrow: the armor of God, believe, choose, and integrate.
Believe in presence of the GOD and in the strength of his GRACE!
GRACE and PEACE,
Gary
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Scriptures marked NKJV are from The New King James Version. (1982). Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.