Day 311: Every Battle

2 Peter 2; Jeremiah 43-44; Psalm 140

This chapter in 2 Peter talks about people living the wrong way. It says that there are false teachers that lead people astray with smooth talk; there are people that will live filthy lives, even after knowing of Jesus Christ. But then there is this line: "God doesn't sleep." I think this means that God doesn't miss anything. He isn't turning his back and ignoring them, he doesn't our lives. God sees each and every one of us and we will be judged according to our faith and the lives we live. These people who preach a false gospel and who live disgusting lives will be judged by God. If we are attempting to live righteous and holy lives, following in Jesus' footsteps, then we do not need to be afraid of that judgement, because "the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish evil people while they wait for the day of judgment." Follower of Jesus, may we hear, believe, and preach only the Truth and keep ourselves pure, as Jesus kept himself pure!

The people Jeremiah addresses have it all mixed up. They asked God for direction, then refused to obey. They continue to worship idols, thinking these idols made them prosperous. They are so misguided that they see the destruction of The Lord, just as he promised, and they refuse to acknowledge their wrong doing. And what is it that keeps them from turning from their evil? Pride. God tells them that he knows it is their pride that keeps them on the wrong path. And it is tough-- tough to admit that we are wrong, that we have been going down the wrong path. It takes a brave step, lots of humility, and brokenness of spirit, to accept that we messed up big time. But for these people, and for us, it is a matter of life and death: for them, it was physical life and death; for us, spiritual/eternal life and death.

"You have the power to save me and you keep me safe in every battle." What a powerful thought. What a promise! What is interesting is that it says that God will keep us safe in every battle. It doesn't promise that we will never see a fight, never have to face an enemy, never have to get messy in a war--in fact, it says "every battle" meaning we will experience more than one. We will have battles, fights, wars, struggles, in this life, but we can have peace that God will save us and keep us safe. I don't think this means that we won't get hurt from time to time, that the battle won't scar us or set us back, but that ultimately, we are safe, secure, saved.