A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman
Frank Perreti wrote a series of books when I was in college that scared the pants off me. They were about spiritual warfare and were all the rage in Christian circles. Sermons were preached and much discussion took place about what was happening in the unseen, spiritual realm. As trends go, this too faded, and we focused on other things. Over the last several months, I have been reminded many times that there are forces at work behind much of what we see with our physical eyes.
There is a battle raging in our world, and it is not between political parties or people of different races. It is not even us against a horrible pandemic. The only true enemy is Satan. He will use every tool he can to steal, kill, and destroy. His strategy is to divide and conquer. If he can convince us that our enemy is flesh and blood, he can use our tendencies toward hate and self-righteousness to make us destroy each other. All the while, he sits back and enjoys the carnage.
But we are better than that. We are children of the King, co-heirs with Christ Jesus, more than conquerors. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities. Our weapons of war are prayer, faith, our testimonies, the blood of the Lamb, and the Word of God. Most importantly, our commander in this war is the all-powerful, undefeated, righteous, and just King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The battle is His, and He is always victorious!
So, when the news has gotten you down, or the world seems to be falling apart around you, remember who you serve. When you are tempted to argue with those who oppose you in every way, remember that they are not the enemy. When you are without answers to the very real problems that exist, remember that you know the One who is Truth personally. When you feel lonely and afraid, remember that you are never, ever alone.
My goal is not to minimize the challenges we are facing. We have monumental tasks before us. We often feel discouraged by our circumstances. We were never promised an easy journey. In fact, Jesus told us that it would be hard. But, be encouraged. Although the future seems uncertain, we can trust the One who orders our steps. At times like this, the Church has the opportunity to show the world that there is hope. Be faithful to follow Him and to lead others to do the same. May the God of peace bring you comfort and strength as you seek Him today.
