“For 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” - Eph 6:12

This past week someone very close to me was the victim of the devastating power of sin.  In a moment, he was victimized.  Helpless.  Taken advantage of.  Violated.  Devasted.  Satan, in his efforts to distort, decieve, and corrupt mankind in sinful lusts and passions used such depravity to hurt someone I love.  To destroy a relationship.  To destroy a life growing towards Christ.  To bring shame and embarassment and torment to another.

I found it physically, emotionally, and spiritually crushing to witness the power of sin to devastate and corrupt God’s people.

I am angry at the devil.  But I do not believe that he succeeded.  I believe he thought he did.  My goal since this tragic event is to stand up in the face of every temptation I am faced with, and stand stronger than ever against his schemes.  I want to sweat day and night to defeat him.  I want to show him that he knows nothing in the sovereign plan of God, and that this tragic result of sin will in turn be used to bring more to Christ, to bring holiness to believers, and strength to many.

I want Satan to reflect on his influence in this situation and not be proud of the corruption but instead horrified at how what he started with sin is perfected and used by God to build people that could not have been built otherwise.  I want to stick it to him.  I want to horrify him with the work that he is in turn doing for the Lord.
Although I cannot go into the complete details of what happened, I ask if you would to take an conscious stand with me, mindful of this situation.  Refute his attacks with the power of God.  What a wondrous and amazing God we have that can take a horrible earthly situation and use it to build his Kingdom.  I want this one event to spur many.  I want Satan to look at this whole situation and realize he was working for God. I am not angry at the person who committed this sin against my friend.  I am angry at sin itself.  I know God is too.  And I want this sutation to spur as many as possible to strong devotion. Please stand with me.

So it’s been quite some time since my last entry.  I’d have to say that it is due to me prioritizing things strangely over the past couple of months.  School came to a close, work caught fire, wedding plans flew to the forefront, and well - I just haven’t made time.

I have however, been blessed with several emails over the course of the break, from people across the US and overseas with kind words to say about the blog and the entries.  Thank you!  That is always an encouragement, and it makes me marvel at the sovereignty of our King when I see that he can use a small thing like this to impact lives even a little!

The past couple weeks have been filled with reflections on the concept of “working” for God.  Often times it becomes easy, I think especially when we settle for “routine” Christianity, to develop a “works” lifestyle.  We can begin to associate our Christianity with accomplishing goals, such as church attendance, frequency of devotions, prayer schedules, ministry work, etc.  While this is clearly not what should define our Christianity (though are natural results of a devoted heart), I have since been convicted of the dangers of such a mindset.

When we begin to “complete” works in an effort to “do works” for God, we have a tendency to associate our own power in our faith.  We can begin to give credit to ourselves, glory to ourselves in what we accomplish.  We take these “works” and our nature begins to tempt us to compare ourselves with others.  We view others through prideful eyes and claim superiority in our faith by our works.  A works mindset leads to pride, and leads to self-glorification, not God-glorification.

We need to keep afresh upon our minds the truth that the entire purpose of our salvation is the glorification of Jesus Christ.  To Him belongs ALL the glory, not some, not most, but ALL.  We are all equally unworthy, all equally depraved.  When you really sit and think about it, how comical it can seem to compare the petty Christian “works” in an effort to define “holiness.”  This has never been the standard of God.  We are called to glorify God with our lives, our bodies - not “out-work” each other in a contest to be the best…tainted man.  We are all in need of a savior, and to him belongs all the Glory.

This is not a commentary in an effort to escape work for the Kingdom, but rather a refresher for our minds.  Let us focus on the fact our actions should be a product of our faith, our salvation in Christ.  Not what defines us as Christians.  That remains what it has always been.  Christ.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesian Benediction