Well, Father, it’s one of those days where I get to the end of it and realize that I’ve not sat down with You for our time together! We had a nice conversation this morning early and throughout most of the morning then. But to actually sit down? It’s time. Open Your word to me and may I glean what You have set before me. Amen.

Mark 1: 23-28 (<<click to read the passage)

I don’t do it all the time but a couple times in the early morning hours of my bus route, I will sing songs– out loud but to myself. This morning an old children’s song came to mind,

All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.

It’s pretty simple but it brought comfort to me.

Many people believe in angels – even non-believers. Some may acknowledge the reality of their counterparts – demons – but I think many just sort of write them off as fairy tales and mythology. That may make us feel better but they are not just some figment of our imagination…they are real – very real.

On multiple occasions, Jesus encountered them and very clearly demonstrated his authority over them. For a point of clarity, God created the beings that they starting out being. They were angels at one point but because of their rebellion in following Lucifer’s lead, they became what they are.

Now I don’t believe they are behind every illness or trouble or problem or temptation we encounter – many things are what they are because of sin and our involvement in it. We can’t pass the buck and credit them for our disobedience. But they are active amongst us and I’m sure, take great pleasure in our claim that they do not exist.

What we need to take away from this passage is the fact that there is active evil in the world and the devil and his minions are out to take us down with them. They are already condemned with eternal separation from their Creator and want to entice us into joining them.

But the major point here is that they are defeated. They battle on but the war is lost. Christ is the victor! They submit to Him and are held in check by their creator.

We then must stand strong in our Savior. We must not yield to their enticements. If we are in Christ, they hold absolutely no power over us but must yield to Him.

Lord, strengthen us. Give us the fortitude to within the onslaught. Time is short for the opposition. We are overcomers when we remain in You!

Jan 17th, 2019, Thurs, 9:02 pm