August 6, 2010

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a horrible situation wondering, "How did I get here? How could I have been so stupid to do something like that? How could something like that happen to me?" If we are completely honest, we could all probably admit to being there.

In today's reading, we find the inhabitants of a place called Laish, who lived in security, were quiet and unsuspecting, lacked absolutely nothing, and were very wealthy. In other words, they had it "made in the shade." They enjoyed a carefree, though highly unguarded, way of life. Unfortunately, it was this throw-caution-to-the-wind lifestyle that was their downfall - they were an easy prey for the Danites, a marauding tribe of the Israelites.

Similarly, Christians may be lulled into a carefree mindset of living a quiet and unsuspecting life, being spiritually deficient, indifferent, and inactive - completely oblivious to the fact we have a full-time spiritual enemy who is constantly on the prowl (like a roaring lion) intently seeking any opportunity to catch us off guard and cause us to fail (1 Peter 5:8). We often fall prey to temptation simply because we grow careless regarding our spiritual growth and fail to take a proactive stand against sinful personal desires and habits.

To avoid getting caught off guard and experiencing such destructive spiritual downfalls, God's Word does the following:

• Warns those who are spiritually proud to guard against sinful vulnerability. (1 Corinthians 10:12) 
• Cautions us to be "sober-minded" and "watchful" at all times to take our defensive stand against the devil's skillful and deceptive temptations. (1 Peter 5:8) 
• Instructs us to arm ourselves with God's spiritual weapons (His Word, His Spirit, His righteousness, His truth, His salvation, etc.) to "stand firm" in the face of evil. (Ephesians 6:13) 
• Directs us to submit ourselves to God and proactively resist the devil. (James 4:7) 
• Encourages us to put on the mindset of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and to bring every thought under the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) 
• Counsels us to actively safeguard our heart with all diligence. (Proverbs 4:23)
  

1. What are some ways we can grow spiritually complacent?
2. In what area(s) of our life are we most vulnerable to spiritual attack?
3. What daily steps are we taking to resist evil and fully embrace God's righteousness?
   

About the Author Nate Stevens Being the son of Christian missionary parents, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of spending my lifetime closely associated with God’s Word. It has truly been a daily light to my feet and a source of strength for my life.