Daily Devo
Lord, Bless them, and Keep Changing Me!
By: John Carrigan
Friday, July 19, 2024
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Whoever first said that the Christian life isn’t a playground, but a battlefield was very wise. The longer I follow Jesus, the more that statement makes sense. Spiritual battles are all around us, and the stakes are high. But our adversaries aren't physical human beings, they are spiritual forces of evil. In Ephesians, Paul writes "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." Ephesians 6:12
On the cross, Jesus asked His Father to forgive the people who crucified Him. Why? Because He knew the forces of evil were misleading them. When I first learned that I remember thinking; "that’s great for Him to say, but I would have responded differently." In those days, holding a grudge and getting even was a way of life for me... Thinking back to those days reminds me it’s impossible to live a Christlike life without relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
But God had mercy on me and did great things for me. But God... Oh how I love hearing those two words! By His grace, I was changed, and this month marks 30 years of being sober! I'm no longer in chains, and now I use my freedom to proclaim Christ's name. Like the demon-possessed man freed by Jesus in Mark 5, I long to go with Jesus. But just as He told that man, Jesus tells me; "not yet, keep telling others what I did for you."
Our world may be on a course of moving further away from God, but that just means the people in it need to personally encounter Jesus more than ever! Don't try to argue people into heaven, avoid conflict, and use your personal testimony. Instead of debating someone, tell them how much God loves them! Tell them the story of how you found God and how He changed you!
When we share, if people don't instantly respond, pray for them, and trust God with the final results.