Continuing with some thoughts from Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur. (See my March 31 and April 4 devotion for reference).
The essence of the Christian walk is to live contrary to human nature. (p.249)
Anyone who has tried to live the Christian life knows that not only is this true, but way too familiar. When God says, “Zig” the world says, “Zag.” God says, “Go right” the world says, “Go left.”
That’s how it has always been.
That’s how it is today.
That’s how it will always be.
It would be nice to think that coming to Jesus would end the struggle. But no, if anything it makes it worse.
The apostle Paul wrote about this struggle on more than one occasion, but his most extensive (I think anyway) and most pointed is found in Ephesians 6: 10-20. Everyone knows it to be the teaching of warfare which is not of this world, but also the armor of God every Christ-follower must wear.
Paul David Tripp wrote the following:
Paul is reminding you that at street level, practical, daily Christianity is at war. There really is a moral right and wrong. There really is an enemy. There really is a seductive and deceptive temptation. You really are spiritually vulnerable. (New Morning Mercies- April 6)
Day in and day out our culture is calling our name. Our enemy is putting out the “red carpet” that leads to fame and fortune initially, but in the end leads to death and destruction.
Old man vs new man. Fake vs reality.
“Father, help me to choose Your way and not the world’s. And most definitely not mine. That spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.”