Choosing at the Crossroads - Part 3

A word picture from the New Testament portrays Jesus pressing on toward the task that lay before him. He refused to be distracted. In the days before his crucifixion, he was determined to press on toward Jerusalem to meet his critics, his enemies, and those who loved and cared for him. He knew God's purpose for his life.

He was tempted by Satan to take the easy road. His disciples and friends begged him to bypass the cross, but he stayed on course. Where did this unrelenting resilience come from that enabled him to accomplish God's purpose? Resilience is a character quality that balances determination and pain in the pursuit of given objective.

Resilience does not indicate the absence of weakness that makes a person subject to fatigue, grief, or even physical handicaps. Under-girding resilience is faith that overrides anxiety and fear or even discouragement. Faith is a gift from God that's available to all who believe in Christ Jesus who ask for it,  gladly accept it, and use it for God's purpose.

Battling Evil Assaults: Allied with God - Part 3

It may seem that God turns his back on evil. A governor once said video poker had stolen the soul of many people in his state. He spoke of a mother who left a newborn infant in her car for ten hours to play this game. The infant died from dehydration and heat. Evil is any addiction that captures your thoughts, heart, soul, and mind.

No one is beyond the influence of evil. Have you this day been tempted by evil or engaged in evil behavior or thoughts? Jesus reminds you in Matthew 6:13 to be constantly on the alert less you be led into temptation and into the hands of Satan. He specifically tells us to pray and ask God  "not to lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Surviving the onslaught of evil requires letting God do his work in you by filling you with his power and courage. Ephesians 6:14 directs you to constantly keep on the breastplate of righteousness to prevent the fiery darts of Satan from penetrating your life. The nudging of the Holy Spirit enables you to keep making this choice.  

Battling Evil Assaults: Allied with God - Part 1

While the accumulation of seemingly trivial instances of evil will threaten our integrity, we're often encouraged to overlook little offenses and treat them as insignificant. No offense of evil is insignificant, for these offenses chip away at our integrity by corroding our conscience. A corroded conscience proceeds to become disconnected from God, and from those who love us.

Romans 12:21 commands us to "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." These words warn us we're vulnerable to evil's influence and power. Evil's strategy may not be a frontal attack, but rather a subtle infiltration of the conscience. Shading the truth with half-truths or white lies may seem harmless but will damage your integrity.

Overcoming evil with good in order to survive spiritually necessitates choosing Christ Jesus to be a part of your entire life. When tempted by evil, no matter how seemingly trivial, ask Jesus to empower you with the courage to do what is good and pleasing in God's sight. With his guidance and assistance you will succeed.