Category: Devotion of the Day

Beset by Invisible Powers

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

Another negative-positive verse like yesterday’s and this time we read that we are not up against flesh and blood these days. The devil is the prince of the power of the air, and he is assisted by legions of wicked spirits and evil angels. Never mind these wiseacres who talk of “outmoded ideas from ancient demonology.” And do not turn all this over to psychiatrists. Any Christian who gets down to business in spiritual warfare soon finds himself against dark and sinister powers. Our Lord contended with that world during the days of His flesh and delivered men and women from it.

Satan and his legions are out to disable the body, deceive the mind, and discourage the spirit. Some he devours as a roaring lion. Some he leads astray as an angel of light. Others he besets as the accuser. He attacks through morals, through the mind, through moods.

Truly our souls need to be on their guard, for “ten thousand foes arise, the hosts of sin are pressing hard to draw us from the skies.”

Bought With an Infinite Price

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
I Peter 1:18,19

Salvation is free but not cheap. The gift of God cost God His Son and the Son His life. With His own precious blood He bought us in the market, bought us out of the market, bought us never to return to the market. We are not redeemed by anything we are or have or can do.

The New Testament theme is a glorious Three R’s – Ruin, Redemption and Regeneration. There is a tendency today to make much of Christ as teacher and example, but when the Greeks came to see Him He spoke immediately of His death. Modern Greeks need the message of redemption by His blood.

It is also the incentive to consecration and service. Not the copying of an Example or following a Teacher, but because we are not our own, but are bought with a price – for that reason we are to glorify God in our body and spirit, which are God’s.