Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 28:4-5, The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.
The location where the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel was right in Israel’s own land. Matthew Henry wrote, “The Philistines pitched in Shunem, which was in the tribe of Issachar, a great way north from their country.” How did they manage to get that close? They managed to get so close because King Saul let down his guard. He was too busy pursuing David when he should have been looking after his people’s and Israel’s best interests. His greatest mistake was allowing his heart to grow cold toward God. His refusal to repent and guard his spiritual life had resulted in leaving Israel’s borders unprotected, but also left the borders of his heart and mind unguarded. This allowed the enemy easy passage into the land of Israel, and fear to cross the borders of his life. How often do we go into the world unprepared to protect our hearts and minds from the daily assaults launched against us spiritually? How often do we start our day without first taking time to pray and read God’s Word? I am afraid that the answer to those questions would bring us to shame if we were honest with ourselves, and with God. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we have enemies that are continually lurking in our lives, observing and trying to influence our thinking, our attitude, and our actions. We fail to give it a second thought because our enemies are not visible to the naked eye. However, if we took the time to look at life through spiritual eyes, we would clearly see the activity of our enemies. Ephesians 6:12 clearly states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Our enemies want us to dismiss their presence, and thereby dismiss the danger of their presence in our everyday activities and interactions. They want to paralyze us with fear so that we become useless for the cause of Christ. They do not want us to share with a lost and dying world who Christ is and what He has done for us. Therefore our only defense, our only chance of surviving these cunning, yet vicious attacks, is to first turn our attention to Christ. As born again believers, we have Christ, who is our Armor. Ephesians 6:13-18 commands, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—.” If we fail to put on our armor before we go out to face the world, we will be ill-prepared to face the day’s challenges. If we neglect prayer and the reading and studying of God’s Word, we do it to our hurt. 1 Peter 5:9 admonishes us to, “Resist him (the devil), steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” How do we resist the devil? We resist him by doing what God commanded us to do in James 4:7-10, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Without a battle plan we will lose, not only the battle, but the war as well. If we first begin by accepting Jesus as our Savior, we have won the war. We have won the war because the war is Christ’s to fight. However, we are involved in the daily battles. If we take the steps daily to pray, read and study God’s Word, ask God to examine our hearts, repent and confess our sins, and ask Him to cleanse us, only then will we be able to maintain secure borders around our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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