Ephesians 6:10-12

Sometime Christians forget that we share the pathway of Christ together. The Psalmist once wrote, “What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God” (Psalm 55:14). While God is very personal with each one of us, we can never forget that we are in this battle together.

In today’s text Paul reminds us that it is easy to get confused about who the enemy really is. Soldiers in war are aware of how dangerous “friendly fire” can be. It is just as true in our homes and daily lives. Parents, spouses, friends, and many others sometimes battle against each other while the real enemy looks on with pleasure. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…”

Some of the most Christlike people we meet in life are the ones that are judged by others as unfit for the kingdom. When will we ever learn that only God can see the heart? I will never forget the revival service when a man walked into the church who looked like someone who really needed the Lord. As the service began, the pastor called on a person to pray. That man whom I had judged from outward appearance stood and humbly talked with God. We must stop this foolishness of dividing the body of Christ into “them and us.” God has warned us that who he makes clean, we dare not call unclean.

We are all struggling with understanding a broken world. There are two things we must know: Who the real enemy is, and we must know the Lord.

Some of the most faithful people I know are crying when no one can see and are fighting battles that only God knows about. I pray that with God’s help I will never add more weight to another’s burden and pain by a judgmental word or deed.

“On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

People need the Lord
People need the Lord”