August 29

A Faithful Protector

Even as eternal children of God, we tend to worry about a lot of things in life. We worry about possessions, jobs, money, relationships, and sometimes even about our personal security. Did you know that when you awoke this morning, you had an enemy stalking you? Worse, this enemy is supernatural, invisible, and super-powerful. And if things could get any more terrifying, that supernatural, invisible, and super-powerful enemy wants you physically and spiritually dead. Jesus said of him, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." (John 10:10) Of all the things that we have to worry about, that reality should move to the top of everyone's daily worry list!

Except for one fact, and that is the other half of that verse where Jesus proclaims, “(but) I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” And it is stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” And finally, Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

That we worry at all is quite human – just as it is also a sure sign of the true state of our sinful natures. Worry is overt disobedience to God's commands, and yet most of His eternal children are still quite good at it. As we look at our Great Protector, we can clearly see that He is always, faithfully, and unfailingly there with us and for us. The Lord Master took on the whole package when He came to dwell eternally with us. He took on all our needs and wants, and He took on our savage, dark, and very dangerous enemy. But despite all our serious weaknesses, worries, and shortcomings, we all still have this promise: “He Who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (1 John 5:18-19) Today, beloved, that is a promise worth remembering!