Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Grace On The Field Of Battle
This morning as the sun came up I was thinking of the battle we are in as believers. It is difficult for me to easily describe this battle. I say this because one day seems good another not so much. Why is that? Actually, even within a day things tend to go up and down, and if I focus on that, I go up and down with it. It seems to me there is a war raging, and these “events” we experience are just the movements, the battles, in this war. The war is for our eternal future, and each battle is a step toward that future. All of these points caused me to wonder about the battle, how it is fought, by whom and the outcome. It seems to me that I would really like to win these battles as often as possible.
There are so many great promises in the scriptures to those that believe. In Psalms 113:7-9 we see that God raises the poor out of the ash heap. This sounds like when I have experienced negative news and then He gives me some good news. This is especially true for me when this news has been about my finances. Then God says He takes that person and has them sit with the princes. It is amazing to me how God can give us a place with people that I would never have thought I would have. We actually get to influence the earth with our prayers. Even princes would be envious of this! He ends this segment saying He gives a barren woman a home and children. For those who have sought to have either of these there is a strong emotion that arises. God does all of these things by His grace. We will come back to this point on grace in a minute.
I Samuel 17:47 says that the battle is the Lord’s. This is the famous story of David and Goliath where David told Goliath it was not about swords and spears. God does battle on God’s terms against the enemies of His people. And God never, never, never loses! This was a small shepherd boys words against a giant and a nation. We all know what happened. Goliath trusted in his own ability, in his sword and in his spear. David trusted in God, and slung a single stone that knocked the giant to the ground. David used the giant’s own sword then to kill him and cut off his head. He used the enemies weapons against him after God helped him. The battle truly was God’s by the grace of God.
In James 4:6 it says God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. David was not a proud warrior. He was a shepherd. His attitude was that of someone that wondered why the army was concerned about the giant, because he knew God was the deliverer. All he knew was that God had helped him with the sheep. Certainly God would prevail when his people’s lives were on the line! He had a humble heart, the heart of a TRUE shepherd. So what is the moral of the story?
God is on our side and will put our words into action when we declare His wonders to men. He does this for the humble. God will deliver our enemies into our hands, if we will humble ourselves in His sight.
Prayer
Father, please forgive me for all the times when I have said or done things in pride. I really have nothing to be proud about because all I have You have given to me. Please strike down the enemies of Your people, in every place in every land and country. Please deliver Your people today Lord, and knock their enemies to the ground. Please let Your people see and feel Your presence today Lord through Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.