After Easter: Wednesday
Know your struggle
|||| Passion Week has come to a close — Christ is risen from the dead! You’ve celebrated His triumph, sang all the songs, coordinated the bright colored outfits and brought your family along for Sunday worship services. But what now? How does the most miraculous day in history affect the rest of your regular, boring life? Every day this week, I’ll be giving a short encouragement on ways to epitomize the Resurrection and embody walking with Jesus. New life is just the beginning. There is so much more God has for you after Easter. ||||
1. The Spear
Be honest.
How many times did someone irritate you this week?
Perhaps your child wouldn’t stop destroying things in that spare room you’re trying to fix up, or a co-worker called out at the last minute leaving you with a to-do list the size of an ancient scroll. Conflict is an everyday part of our lives, and that doesn’t change once you become a Christian. In fact, in some ways it becomes more notable as you try to navigate living God’s way in the midst of challenging relationships.
David, the second king of Israel, dealt with a metric ton of conflict in his time. His father-in-law, Saul, was consistently trying to discredit and murder him despite David’s innocence and loyalty. Finally, a moment comes when, after years of being on the lam, David has an opportunity to end it all. One night, he and his nephew Abishai are able to sneak into the camp of Saul and his soldiers, who have all been enveloped in an otherworldly deep sleep — from the LORD. A spear stuck in a patch of grass inches from the king’s head.
'“Uncle, let me stick him,” Abishai whispered, gripping the spear, glancing back at a guard snoring against a rock nearby. “I can do it in one shot. It’ll be quick.”
David looked mournfully at the regal face. It was worn with lines bearing the mark of sleepless years, tormented by voices hissing in the dark. “Don’t,” he said, not breaking his gaze at Saul. “God forbid I take my own vengeance on the anointed king. The LORD will deal justly with him, in His way.” The words seemed to pour out of him like a melody from a well-played harp. But then, David’s words usually sounded like that. Saul’s face contorted and calmed again, like the wave of a dream.
They looked around the camp and David let out a sigh. “Grab the… spear and the water jug,” he muttered. “Let’s go.” (1 Samuel 26:7-12)
2. The Struggle
David was clued in on something we often miss in our journey with Jesus: people are not our enemies.
Are there people around who have decided to stand against you, hurt you, gossip about you, embarrass or ruin you? I don’t doubt it. Stories overflow in the Scriptures of those like David who, though they didn’t deserve it, became the target of wicked people. God doesn’t condone or accept the harm others are looking to do to you, but the deception can be very subtle here. The enemy wants to direct your attention to humans when, according to Paul, the actual source of our struggle is inhuman:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
— Ephesians 6:10-12
And David, a musician who played heavenly songs to rail against the demonic storms raging within Saul years before, knew and remembered this.
At the core of our spiritual war is a cosmic struggle between the supernatural forces of darkness and the Kingdom of God. Whether you like it or not, that’s what you’re smack-dab in the middle of. And the Resurrection of Jesus blew the doors wide open as a beachhead for redeemed people to join the fight.
That person that told you off? It’s not about them.
The boss who gave you a bad review? It’s not about them.
Or the person at church who hurt your feelings? It’s not about them.
Our struggle, your struggle, is not against humans. It’s against the darkness. Satan is actively hunting you; he is an ancient enemy who has thought of everything (1 Peter 5:8). He will try to embitter you against people or influence and use you to embitter others. There’s no better deceiver, and you cannot fight on your own accord. You need Something stronger than you can imagine.
3. The Rock
As a man of war, David faced an insane amount of conflict through his career. He was skilled, fierce, tactical; the stuff of legends. Like Robin Hood and King Arthur put together, his stories are mythic. Interestingly, though, David nearly always credits Yahweh with being his help in battle:
“I love You, O LORD, my strength.”
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.— Psalm 18:1-3
God is the Rock.
The Rock that is immovable, unshakeable, unchanging. The Rock that is strong and reliable and timeless. The Rock that is consistent and powerful and safe. Knowing that your enemy is spiritual and your struggle is spiritual should enlighten you to a key in the Christian life: your deliverance is also spiritual. Namely, it is Jesus Christ.
He is the One we go to when we are tempted by sin, or someone does something and we get angry, or hopelessness drains our soul. Jesus is the Mighty Warrior Who overcomes the darkness in our struggle. Remember, it isn’t about other humans — they’re broken too, some losing their own unseen war right now. Even Jesus saw this with His own followers, like Peter (Matthew 16:23). Don’t get distracted by the enemy into stirring up more strife and bitterness between you and others. The LORD will deal justly, in His way.
The Resurrection means we are fighting from a consistent place of victory in Christ. You can live like that.
Put it into Practice:
Today, read Ephesians 6:10-20, and pay attention to the different kinds of spiritual enemies listed. How does this change your perspective of daily life?
Who do you need to forgive? Satan longs to stir up bitterness and resentment in people. Write down the name of someone you need to forgive; then, pray aloud that God would help you forgive them, to release them and let them go.
Make a decision to identify ways the enemy is attacking you. Maybe it’s certain television shows or other media, time spent online, activities you participate in or relationships you have. Be ruthless against sin; do whatever it takes.
