Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

“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.”         (Ephesians 6:12)

As we navigate the waters of relationship with our family or friends, rough seas are inevitable. Regardless of how much we love one another, we are sometimes going to disagree, and sometimes quite strongly! I’ve know this scripture verse all my life but recently, I was given new illumination on this passage.

Satan wants to destroy us in any way he can. Some of the more obvious worldly temptations may be easy for us to resist. But if he can turn families, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ against one another through hurts and anger, then he counts that as a victory.

So, when I feel my frustration rising because of some offense, I try to realize that I’m not at war with my spouse, neighbor, son, daughter, or whomever. The real battle is against the prince of darkness who wants to rob us of everything good, including our relationships. And guess what — I’m just not falling for it!

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from god, not from ourselves.