People are not the enemy!
Your spouse, your children, your brother, your sister, your mom, your dad, your boss, your neighbor, or your in-laws are not the enemy. Your enemy is the Devil and his demons. Your enemy is his spirit at work in the world. Your enemy is his evil spirit trying to coerce your flesh to follow its natural fallen cravings.
- “…in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Eph 2:2 (NIV)
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)
- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:12 (NIV)
Read Ephesians 2:2 again and pause when you get to the words “used to” before reading the rest of the verse. Now spend some time thanking God that you are no longer what you “used to” be. Praise Him for what you are now “in Christ” and what you are becoming as you work out what God has worked in.
God has equipped you to combat the real enemy. Pray for those in your life that have become difficult and remember that they are not the enemy. In fact, God gave them His best when He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for them. Oh, and He gave His best for you! You were worth dying for.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care