Romans 12:9 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
What is genuine love? John explains this to us in his first epistle. 1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John is saying that God is the standard for love, so it is only through God that genuine love can come. We must KNOW God in order to KNOW love. And if our love comes from God, then we should naturally abhor evil because it is the opposite of God’s nature. If evil comes our way, we should resist it at all costs.
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
If we are deep in God’s Word, as yesterday’s post advocated, it should come as a matter of course to resist the devil. And God gave us the tools to do just that.
Ephesians 6:11-18a “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
Today, dedicate yourselves to putting on the full armor of God and resisting evil.
Happy Hanukkah!