Sometimes, we
Canadians are too good-natured for our own good. In a movie called “Canadian Bacon” some
American cops find out just how agreeable we are. As they bang into people to reach a building,
the Canadians who are hit say “Sorry.
Sorry.” Truth is, it would
probably happen that way. We do the same
thing with our lives as the world and the enemy try to steal, kill and destroy
our lives, our families, our friends, our jobs, our communities, our country,
etc.
It’s like a
lion is advancing into our lives and this is our response: “No, big lion,
please don’t eat my baby. Please just go
away. Oh, you bit off his arm now. That’s okay, you didn’t mean to- if you just
leave now I won’t get mad.” Sounds
unlikely, but we do those kinds of things all the time, allowing evil to
overtake this world when we should aggressively be going after it.
It’s kind of
like a hockey game. Imagine leaving the
puck for the other team because we don’t want to get in their way. Or perhaps we don’t fight over the puck in
the corner, or race to retrieve it at all.
Maybe we just let them come at us without blocking their pass to the net
and we certainly wouldn’t check them- that’s far too aggressive.
Be sensible and
vigilant, because your adversary the
Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; whom
firmly resist (be immovable, stubborn, steadfast) in the faith… 1Pt. 5:8,9
The thief does not come except to steal and to kill
and to destroy…. Jh. 10:10
When the
enemy attacks or the world comes after us, are we sitting back moaning and
groaning, doing our best to get through it by our own endeavors, or are we taking a stand and fighting back in the
Lord’s strength? Honestly, this is
something I’m just thinking about now since, well, my life has taken this crazy
turn, but I believe the Lord’s been showing me that (it’s like) we as a people
are in a hockey game and not even playing to win. We’re just sitting back good-naturedly, being
trampled on while our health, relationships, houses, finances, belongings etc
all fall apart when we really should STAND.
"God will make
it all better. I know He will, so I just
gotta pray, believe, sit back and wait." Now,
maybe there’s nothing we can physically do to change our situation and we
should obey God in all areas, but perhaps we need to move in the Spirit and fight
back spiritually. Aggressively pray
alone, in unity with others, fast, anoint with oil, get up and take the lamb
from the mouth of the bear or lion.
David did on more than one occasion.
And Saul said to David, You are not able… 1Sm 17:33
And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his
father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the
flock. And I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb out of its mouth. And when it
rose against me, I caught it by the
beard, and struck it and killed it.
And David said, Jehovah who has delivered me out of
the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of
the hand of this Philistine… (v.37)
…But I come to you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel ,
whom you have defied. Jehovah will deliver you into my hand today… (v. 45,46)
David learned
an important lesson somewhere in the fields while tending sheep. He learned total reliance on the Lord- but
David still ‘fought the good fight,’ albeit with the Lord’s help. David had a primary response in life: seek
the Lord, ask Him what to do, then obey knowing God would give the
victory. Perhaps we need to do the same-
stop taking all this garbage sitting down, seek the Lord but also stand up and
fight back with Him as our strength!
That’s my pondering of the day…