“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.”
Now, even when we sin, we can simply confess our sin and restore our fellowship with Jesus based on the truth of 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” This is true. This is true of my soul and yours right now. We in Christ are not condemned. It doesn’t matter what we feel about it; our feelings are not the truth.
The righteousness of Christ surrounds us, before and behind. Isaiah 58:8 tells us that “righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard” (NIV). Righteousness is my guard.
We need this righteous guard because we have an accuser—Satan—who assaults us with condemnation day and night (Rev. 12:10). If you feel assaulted by feelings of worthlessness, shame, and guilt, it’s no wonder: We have an enemy who doesn’t want us to live in the reality of Christ’s righteousness.
Reflect:
Read 1 Peter 5:8–9. When, recently, have you felt assaulted by feelings of condemnation? Consider: How could you have, instead, clung to God’s righteousness as a guard against such attacks?
Pray:
Create a short verbal or written list of memories, sins, hurts, or habits that stir up feelings of condemnation. For each one, thank God for liberating you from that condemnation. Invite God to help you live as one set free.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
After lobbying from fellow Southern Baptists and Christians affected by the war, the House speaker moves a package forward.
