March 15, 2021 — Part Of The Resistance?

“I stopped by Fred’s Fuel yesterday to get the car filled with gas,” Stan began, “and I saw a bumper sticker that led to a short discussion and later got me to thinking about my faith walk.”

“What was that all about?” I responded.  “What did the bumper sticker say?”

“Resist.”

“That’s it?” I asked.  “Resist?”

“Yeah,” Stan replied.  “And while the guy with that bumper sticker was filling his car, I asked him what he was resisting.”

“How’d that go?”

“Well,” Stan said, “the guy, in a rather unkind way, said something like if I had to ask I probably wasn’t smart enough to understand. That’s all he said before getting in his car and driving off real fast like he was mad.”

“You might be lucky he drove off,” I observed.

“Could be,” Stan replied.  “Later, as I thought about what happened, it occurred to me that I should get a bumper sticker like that.”

“Why?”

“So if someone asked me what I’m resisting,” Stan said with a smile, “I could tell them I’m resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil.”

“And,” he added, “when I got their attention with that, I could go on to explain how important it is to not resist God in what He wants to do in and through each one of us.”

“You think that will work?” I asked.

“Won’t know until I try,” Stan responded, “but I’ll let you know.”

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Bible verses to consider:

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7.

You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.  Acts of the Apostles 7:51.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that you show me what and what not you want me to resist.  As you know, too often I resist what you want to do in and through me.  As well, too often I do not resist what Satan has for me.  Please help me in following every step of your lead so I do resist self, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and I do not resist you.  Move in and through me in exact accordance with your will.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Think on this:  Are there things in your life that God has for you that you are resisting?  If so, why?  What are some of those things?  On the opposite side, are there things going on in your life that you should be resisting, but you are not doing so?  If yes, what’s that all about?  Do you believe that if we resist the devil he will, indeed, flee?  Why or why not?  If you sense that you need for him to flee from you, do you know how that can and will happen?