Deuteronomy 28
Deuteronomy 28
"The Lord will cause your enemies who will rise up against you to be
defeated before you. They will march out against you from one
direction but flee from seven directions." Deut 28: 7
There are some who believe that following Jesus will ensure a lifetime
of peace. They will tell you that if you want to have peace, you
should get back on track with Jesus. Taking their "theology" a step
further, if you re experiencing difficult times, those people would
tell you it is because there is something wrong with your spiritual
life. That's not necessarily so.
Sure, there are times when we have to deal with the consequences of
our willful sin. But not every hardship is a result of faithlessness.
As a matter of fact, some hardship is directly from the Lord, and
should be considered a blessing. The peace that God provides His
children is not always the absence of conflict. Often times, His
"shalom" manifests itself as peace in the midst of conflict.
Prior to entering the land of Canaan, Moses is emboldening the people,
exhorting them to have courage when the enemy attacks. Remember, the
enemy is always prowling, preparing to attack. The enemy pounces,
whether we are ready or not.
Who is our enemy? Is it not the devil, the world, and the flesh?
If you are seeking the absence of conflict, you will be very
disappointed. Conflict will come, whether you're a Christian or not.
When most people say they want "Peace", what they really mean is that
they want "Victory". With victory comes peace and each victory
experienced, builds towards a "stockpile of peace" that future
conflict will be resolved in the Lord's favor. Victory builds upon
victory. James 1
Growing in faith doesn''t necessarily mean that we will eliminate
conflict. It could mean that God is growing us to be faithful through
even greater conflict. It's all for His glory, because each victory
is His.
You''ll never live victoriously, until you trust the Lord and face
conflict, head-on. Prov 3:5-6 God's word does not ensure the absence
of conflict - but it does ensure victory through it.
Blessings.
Steve Wiggins
