Cutting to the Chase

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6.12)

Don’t you just hate long and laborious explanations? I want to get to the goods in a hurry. Save your verbose tirades about how something works and let’s just get to the plan. If I want to know all that other stuff I’ll Google it or ask my Facebook friends!

We live in the information age don’t we? We can research the minutia without lengthy preparatory narratives right? Well... I guess it really depends on the subject doesn’t it? Some times we need extra information to get the job done right.

Paul gets into a seemingly lengthy introduction to the believer’s armor in Ephesians chapter six. He starts out well with these words, “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.”

Cool so far. So, Paul, just what is that armor? It is at this instant that Paul goes into a lengthy aside. Notice what he says in verses 12 and 13:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Whoa! Why all of the seeming legalese here? Why not just cut to the chase? Let’s get to the list of goods that we need!

Here’s why. The “chase” is in the battle. The battle is against an invisible foe. Thus we need to know how serious it is and just what we’re up against. We dare not put on the gear in a haphazard manner. We need to recognize the difference between the innocent bystander and the injurious bad guy before we get on all of our equipment. So, let’s do a little breakdown of what Paul is telling us:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - I often get hung up right here. If I had my battle gear on I’d be killing the wrong “enemy”. Why? Because often that “enemy” seems to be the people around me. In the past I’ve talked about my disposition in heavy traffic, in long lines or on the phone with a “helpful” service representative. As I listen to the latest “hit song” for the umpteenth time my temper rises and I want to strangle someone with the phone cord.

Paul says, “No Mike! Don’t go there. That Indian is not the enemy! He/She is just doing his job. Your enemy is sowing discord in your mind. Focus! Know the enemy. If you’re seeing “flesh and blood” they are not the ones you’re fighting!

This is crucial information. It is not a digression or irrelevant comment. Properly interpreting what Paul tells us helps us to eliminate a lot of needless anguish and effort. We avoid wasting our energy on innocent people. Our attention is drawn from the chase by those flesh and blood dwellers all around us. They seem like ripe targets! They all look so guilty! So, if they are not the problem, who is? Paul will tell us tomorrow or today if you choose to read on. So let’s give it some more ink (or pixels) tomorrow. OK? OK.

Caught up to Paradise - 2 Corinthians 12

Residing in Michigan for over half my life, I had heard about Paradise. Because Paradise is a small town in the Upper Peninsula, you may have never visited there in your life, but you knew it existed. It was WAY up there next to Tahquamenon Falls and nothing else. Where's Tahquamenon Falls? Next to Paradise and nothing else. It's a long way from home. Why all of the talk about Paradise? Because Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12. There was this guy who had been caught up to Paradise. Not in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but into the REAL Paradise. While there, he'd heard things that he was unable to repeat. What on earth was this? Who was this guy? Here's what was going on. Paul defended his position of Apostleship in chapter eleven and gave the Corinthians an idea of what Apostleship looked like in chapter twelve. It came with great wonders, like seeing or instead hearing unimaginable things. But, too, that position came with a terrible cost. God gave Paul a &q

What to get God for Christmas

Jesus left perfect surroundings, relationships and glory to be born into squalor. He was homeless before birth. His father was a carpenter in a culture where carpentry was a despised trade. His, mother though young and giving birth to her firstborn, had no attendant nurses, helpers or friends. Rather than a pristine hospital, birth was given in the filthy stench of a stable. Romantic? Hardly. This sacrifice brought a life of hardship. Why? Why this odd story? Obedience. God's gift to humanity was His son. Jesus' gift was obedience to the Father. He paid the greatest price. Not because we are special but because he loves His Father. His gift was the perfect gift. Our Father wants obedience for Christmas and every other day for that matter. In Brazil Christmas is becoming commercialized. A phenomenon familiar for years in the United States tickles a growing economy. There is little time for meditation on God's Gift. There are no chestnuts roasting or Jack Frost nippin

Stop Trusting

Isaiah 2:22 says Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? The Prophet is saying that we shouldn't put our trust in humankind because they are so finite. They are not like God, who is infinite. People are fickle. They change their minds. They love you and then hate you in moments. God invites us to trust him completely with everything that we have. He doesn't show himself to us physically or as a spirit. He demands that we have faith. However, he also gives us the faith to trust him. The universe shouts "Creator!" and yet we often ignore the proclamation. This ignorance does not make God's creation any less a physical demonstration of his grandeur. God's boundless being becomes more amazing in his presence within us. How can the infinite God dwell in the mortals he commands us not to trust? Jesus said, "with man it is impossible but with God, all things are possible."

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