Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:49:08 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Oct. 19); BP: Jer. 46; RBTTY: II Thess. 2; Is. 56-58
October 19 “Put On Your Armor”
“Order the buckler and shield and draw near to battle. Harness the horses and get up, your horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears and put on the brigandines.”
Jeremiah 46:3-4
The hour is late, the battle is raging and the Commander has spoken.
Warfare.
It’s everywhere. In every nation. In every city. In every church. In every family. In every life. Brother against brother. Father against son. Tribe against tribe. Company against company.
But, it’s still warfare.
Pride vs. humility. . .greed vs. giving. . .darkness vs. light. . .bad vs. good. . .wrong vs. right. . .flesh vs. spirit. . .the devil and his forces of evil vs. God and His Kingdom of Truth.
The question is:
“Whose side are we on? Or, which side are we aiding and abetting?”
By nature, we’re on the wrong side. Even though we may have walked an aisle, joined a church, been baptized, etc., unless we “choose this day whom we will serve” (Josh. 24:15), we will always end up fighting AGAINST the Lord rather than for Him—for, in reality, it’s a “battle of the will,” i.e., who’s going to be Lord of our lives today: Self or the Savior?
God’s command to Jeremiah in today’s Manna is a clarion call to each one of us as “soldiers of the Cross” to prepare ourselves for battle. In fact, if we’re not already “fighting the good fight” (II Tim. 4:7a), it’s time we started. And, if we are in the battle—but “growing weary in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9)—it’s a call to “stay focused, faithful and stand firm.”
If we’ve known the Lord Jesus very long and studied His Word very much at all, we already know (at least in general terms) about “The Full Christian Armor” (Eph. 6:10-18). We may even be able to name each piece in the order in which it’s listed.
However, the question is: “Are we wearing the Armor? Or, are we relying on some type of spiritual osmosis to learn God’s Word or the Holy Spirit to be some spiritual nanny to dress us each morning?”
It just won’t happen. . .for the Commander has said “Put on your armor and draw near to battle. A good soldier of Jesus Christ doesn’t complain when hard times come; neither does he let himself get tangled up with the cares of this world—for he has but one desire: To please Him Who has chosen him to be a soldier” (II Tim. 2:3-4).
So, how are you doing, Pvt. Pilgrim? Are you ready for battle? In Christ, we must say “Yes Sir! Reporting for duty as ordered, Sir!” And, if we’ve been A.W.O.L. (Lk. 15:11-24), isn’t it time to get back in the battle??
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