Everything

"He took care of everything."

MY MOM once said of the book of Job that she’d seen it correctly for so long that she had to think to remember what most others said incorrectly. I would throw in, a study of chapter 1 corrects most incorrect theology. Verse 1, alone, tells us powerful Truths. But as to what she said, I get it. God decided to show me the Truth about the devil and devils, and now, I can’t unsee it.

It’s not a popular subject. I get that. But the reasons why are the wrong ones. The biggest reason being FEAR. There’s nothing to fear. The devil and devils are beings God created to do a specific job, but they sinned. This makes them so much lower. He is and always will be Highest. He is God. They are not. And He has condemned them, through Jesus (John 16;11). We have God in us and upon us, when we invite Him. He surrounds us, Psalm 139.

We stare at the chaos around us and fail to see the Word of God. We read the Word of God and misapply it to the chaos around us. Men misinterpret prophecies, speak what isn’t prophecy but call it that, without knowledge of what prophecy actually is. 1 Corinthians 14:3 tells us prophecy is made to encourage, edify, and comfort. So if what we hear brings fear, it is either not God speaking or we misunderstand it. Matthew 24 is a good example.

I read a book, years ago, which helped me with this chapter. A re-read, recently, though, turned me toward God. Because I know Him now and He isn’t trying to make us afraid, like was said. It isn’t a fearful warning. It isn’t really even meant for the Gentile church. I say it that way on purpose. Jesus, in that passage, was speaking to the Jews. “Wars and rumors of wars” and the persecution He spoke of were greatly meant for the Jews, who would face the horrors of the Romans still, when they destroyed the temple, and the Holocaust of World War II.

We see persecution on every side and defend ourselves from it. That isn’t what God wanted either. He even said, through Jesus, recorded in that chapter, that the Spirit would give men what to say. I say “men” and not “us” because we have got to depersonalize persecution and cast all our cares on God. God doesn’t need our defense and, in fact, died to keep us from defending ourselves. He took care of everything, including the devil and devils, and bids us to rest.

Jesus is the PRINCE OF PEACE, and there we stand. Not as victors on the battlefield, but as children of God, leaning all we are on the cross and the Resurrection. Where sin wants us to fight (and it is sin alone and not the devil), we refuse. There is no need. Fight is argument which Jesus has already settled. We cannot quote Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8, and 2 Timothy 1:10 and then turn around and say “the devil is doing” whatever we’re blaming him for. One cancels out the other. Though, he is to blame. He is the first to sin, the “ruler” or “prince” of King James translators, same word in Greek. But that is all that word means – “first.” We can make anything rule over us through our attention to it.

So stop paying attention and focus on Christ, who is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit together. WITH us, Emmanuel. FOR us. Never leaving or forsaking us (Hebrews 13;5). Stop worrying about unpardonable sin and rejoice in His care for you. For God SO LOVED the world that He gave. And won.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14)

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” (2 Timothy 1:10)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com