Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. If it were that visible, that definable, that clear…then it would be an easy battle for the disciple of Jesus. But how many times do we make it against flesh and blood?! We put a face on our enemy. We define geographical territory. Turf wars at the office emerge. In-laws become out-laws. The scenario multiplies and never seems to stop!
Struggle. Literally, the apostle Paul says “wrestling.” We wrestle against the sources of evil and the power of evil. This is the only time in the New Testament that “wrestling” is used. In the papyrus, “wrestler” or a “wrestling man” is found a couple of times, dating around the 2nd and 3rd century. In the 3rd and 4th century a short Christian sermon survives that mentions “spiritual wrestling.”
Paul uses many metaphors of warfare to depict the struggle of living the Christian life. It may be that the “wrestler” here is really describing brutal hand-to-hand combat. Life and death struggle. Resistance and strength spent to the bitter end.
We live in a day and time where Christianity is measured. Dollars. Attendance. Programs. Events. Good time. Fun. Self is pampered. Egos are stroked. Comfort is the highest value.
What happened to the daily reminder that we are involved in a life and death spiritual struggle? Nowhere in Scripture are we ever promised that following Jesus is “ rose garden without the thorns.”
Paul makes it clear in Ephesians that this struggle is because of our sinful nature, desires of the flesh. Once we were dead in trespasses and sins, therefore there was no struggle. Heart is hardened. Conscience is dead. Desires and thoughts focused on sinful desires.
God made us alive in Christ! Now we struggle. The battle lines have been drawn. Satan and his forces are lined up against us. I have learned that the harder the struggle, the more testimony it is to a stand of faithfulness. Our spiritual struggle, then, is not against people and property. It is against Satan, our adversary. Praise be to God who has given us the victory in Christ!
In Christian love, Curtis
Struggle. Literally, the apostle Paul says “wrestling.” We wrestle against the sources of evil and the power of evil. This is the only time in the New Testament that “wrestling” is used. In the papyrus, “wrestler” or a “wrestling man” is found a couple of times, dating around the 2nd and 3rd century. In the 3rd and 4th century a short Christian sermon survives that mentions “spiritual wrestling.”
Paul uses many metaphors of warfare to depict the struggle of living the Christian life. It may be that the “wrestler” here is really describing brutal hand-to-hand combat. Life and death struggle. Resistance and strength spent to the bitter end.
We live in a day and time where Christianity is measured. Dollars. Attendance. Programs. Events. Good time. Fun. Self is pampered. Egos are stroked. Comfort is the highest value.
What happened to the daily reminder that we are involved in a life and death spiritual struggle? Nowhere in Scripture are we ever promised that following Jesus is “ rose garden without the thorns.”
Paul makes it clear in Ephesians that this struggle is because of our sinful nature, desires of the flesh. Once we were dead in trespasses and sins, therefore there was no struggle. Heart is hardened. Conscience is dead. Desires and thoughts focused on sinful desires.
God made us alive in Christ! Now we struggle. The battle lines have been drawn. Satan and his forces are lined up against us. I have learned that the harder the struggle, the more testimony it is to a stand of faithfulness. Our spiritual struggle, then, is not against people and property. It is against Satan, our adversary. Praise be to God who has given us the victory in Christ!
In Christian love, Curtis
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