Into the Fire

A world gone mad with defiant gestures against a God they don’t want to see. Refuse to address. Decide to ignore. Choose not to believe. A world in the clutches of demons.

Sliding into the pews without notice, welcomed by the greeter at the door, a bulletin pushed into the eager hand which makes contact, a handshake barely felt. Simmering gazes surveying the members standing to sing. Marking those with unseen checks who will slip into sin with little resistance. A subtle smile as a woman sends a willing blink, admiring the confidence exuding from the stranger.

Do you recognize the demeanor? Do you discern the death in their eyes? Will you fall unassuming into the clutches of demons?

The war rages around us. The ever-present saturation of sinful rearrangements of God’s truthful stipulations. Yes: requirements. Yes: the efforts made to avoid sin. Yes: responsibility for doing the wrong thing(s). Accountable for decisions.

Will we fight? Will we contrast the ways of the world? Without smug legalism, will we obey? Will we comply with the leading of the Holy Spirit? Or will we go our own way and rationalize the Savior’s crucifixion, thinking only the forgiveness applies to us?

Many stand by and justify the recurrence of lies, folding principles into torn pieces of paper blowing in the winds of confused doctrines. Meaningless matters. Judgment is eradicated to enable sin.

Anything to make “it” easier. A trick to lead us into destruction.

Into the clutches of demons . . .

Father, the war of the flesh rages, carnal desires fire up like dry tinder, and we don’t fight. That war against the spiritual forces of evil in high places consumes so many of us with little effort. God, in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, I ask for your strength, your discernment, your power in the Spirit to live fully for you. To resist the enemy of my soul. To recognize his evil schemes. To rebuke the demons who confront me and those I love. To stand. To stand for Jesus. To stand in Jesus. To stand like Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.