I've often wondered why some people seem so afflicted, while others do not. Why some afflictions are so extreme while others are lesser than. Here's what we know, "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour." DEVOUR!! Wow! That's a fired up word. Thinking about an enemy completely devouring you is a frightening thought.
How does he do it? How does the devil devour someone? Well, I don't know how anyone else sees it, but I see it in my own life, everyday. How he attacks every area trying to find a chink in my armor. The word "adversary" means one that contends with, opposes, or resists. This implies he pushes against us and grapples with us as in a wrestling match. So, we know that we're fighting against an opponent, and when we move forward he's pushing to move our steps backwards.
The word "devour" means to eat up greedily or ravenously. This implies that once he's bitten into us, he wastes no time utterly consuming us.
This leads back to my beginning paragraph as to why some are so afflicted while others seem unharmed. I'm sure you're thinking, "she's going to say, 'some have a greater faith.' " May be. But that would be giving us the glory, wouldn't it? It's more like, "His mercies endure forever." God's, of course. What stands between us and our adversary? What keeps him from accomplishing his goal to destroy, devour, and utterly consume us in affliction and trial. Our Lord's mercies.
I see, with my spiritual eyes, every soul afflicted on this side of eternity. Every soul. Not one person escapes affliction. This is our adversary seeking whom he may devour. So, what we need to realize is that every single person has an affliction or a trial they're facing everyday in some area and in some degree. The devil is at work at all times. He doesn't rest. He has much to accomplish. He has a point to prove. He thinks he's going to make the statement that he is above God and worthy of His throne. So, if he can achieve his goals, then wouldn't that make him a greater enemy than our God is an ally to us?
There's a spiritual war going on with every person. Some will yield and win and some will fight and die. By this, I mean some will give in to God's call and receive the precious gift of salvation but, some will fight or "kick against the pricks," and with this remains the sinful life wherein "the wages of sin is death."
Some of us are weaker than others and therefore the devil's afflictions have greater or lesser impact or effect. God is always standing by to relieve some of the affliction. Don't forget Job. Job wasn't just afflicted without God's knowledge. The devil challenged the Lord that Job would curse God if he was afflicted just enough. God said, "go for it, do your worst only don't kill him, and you will see my servant is loyal no matter what you do." (paraphrased). And he was afflicted, almost to the death. He lost everything including the simple compassion of his friends, who wanted to know what he had done wrong to deserve such wrath from God.
What's worthy to note about this is that God didn't allow the devil free reign. He allowed the devil a wee bit. It's in God's power to allow or not. So, we will suffer afflictions of varying degrees on this side of eternity, but God's mercies endure forever. Imagine that while you are indeed suffering in your trials and afflictions, there's a shield. This shield is keeping the fiery darts of the devil from raining on you without mercy. If God did not stand between us and our adversary, he would utterly consume us in grief, despair, affliction, trial, tribulation, or the shadows of death. The thing that governs who suffers what, is the strength each of us possess to battle with.
"To each is given a measure of faith." My measure might not be quite as much as yours and therefore, whatever you're going through might look substantial to me. Too much for me to bare. But what I'm going through could look the same to you. All the while, I'm enduring mine and you're enduring yours. All we need to know is that the trials are coming. They won't ever cease. All the money in the world can't buy us out of that. We need salvation. We need to be in Christ. We need to have our souls in the hands of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing else will protect us.
I've been on either side. It's truly hell on one side and heaven on the other. I've suffered immense darkness without my Savior. With Him, however, has been battle after battle won. Truly I am "more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." We don't have to suffer, brothers and sisters. We don't have to lose every battle we face. God has greater plans for His children.
I love the thought of Jesus bruising the devil's head with His heel. All for us. All for love!!!
How does he do it? How does the devil devour someone? Well, I don't know how anyone else sees it, but I see it in my own life, everyday. How he attacks every area trying to find a chink in my armor. The word "adversary" means one that contends with, opposes, or resists. This implies he pushes against us and grapples with us as in a wrestling match. So, we know that we're fighting against an opponent, and when we move forward he's pushing to move our steps backwards.
The word "devour" means to eat up greedily or ravenously. This implies that once he's bitten into us, he wastes no time utterly consuming us.
This leads back to my beginning paragraph as to why some are so afflicted while others seem unharmed. I'm sure you're thinking, "she's going to say, 'some have a greater faith.' " May be. But that would be giving us the glory, wouldn't it? It's more like, "His mercies endure forever." God's, of course. What stands between us and our adversary? What keeps him from accomplishing his goal to destroy, devour, and utterly consume us in affliction and trial. Our Lord's mercies.
I see, with my spiritual eyes, every soul afflicted on this side of eternity. Every soul. Not one person escapes affliction. This is our adversary seeking whom he may devour. So, what we need to realize is that every single person has an affliction or a trial they're facing everyday in some area and in some degree. The devil is at work at all times. He doesn't rest. He has much to accomplish. He has a point to prove. He thinks he's going to make the statement that he is above God and worthy of His throne. So, if he can achieve his goals, then wouldn't that make him a greater enemy than our God is an ally to us?
There's a spiritual war going on with every person. Some will yield and win and some will fight and die. By this, I mean some will give in to God's call and receive the precious gift of salvation but, some will fight or "kick against the pricks," and with this remains the sinful life wherein "the wages of sin is death."
Some of us are weaker than others and therefore the devil's afflictions have greater or lesser impact or effect. God is always standing by to relieve some of the affliction. Don't forget Job. Job wasn't just afflicted without God's knowledge. The devil challenged the Lord that Job would curse God if he was afflicted just enough. God said, "go for it, do your worst only don't kill him, and you will see my servant is loyal no matter what you do." (paraphrased). And he was afflicted, almost to the death. He lost everything including the simple compassion of his friends, who wanted to know what he had done wrong to deserve such wrath from God.
What's worthy to note about this is that God didn't allow the devil free reign. He allowed the devil a wee bit. It's in God's power to allow or not. So, we will suffer afflictions of varying degrees on this side of eternity, but God's mercies endure forever. Imagine that while you are indeed suffering in your trials and afflictions, there's a shield. This shield is keeping the fiery darts of the devil from raining on you without mercy. If God did not stand between us and our adversary, he would utterly consume us in grief, despair, affliction, trial, tribulation, or the shadows of death. The thing that governs who suffers what, is the strength each of us possess to battle with.
"To each is given a measure of faith." My measure might not be quite as much as yours and therefore, whatever you're going through might look substantial to me. Too much for me to bare. But what I'm going through could look the same to you. All the while, I'm enduring mine and you're enduring yours. All we need to know is that the trials are coming. They won't ever cease. All the money in the world can't buy us out of that. We need salvation. We need to be in Christ. We need to have our souls in the hands of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing else will protect us.
I've been on either side. It's truly hell on one side and heaven on the other. I've suffered immense darkness without my Savior. With Him, however, has been battle after battle won. Truly I am "more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." We don't have to suffer, brothers and sisters. We don't have to lose every battle we face. God has greater plans for His children.
I love the thought of Jesus bruising the devil's head with His heel. All for us. All for love!!!
