YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD CHRIST

NEIL ANDERSON'S DAILY IN CHRIST
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD CHRIST

The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy (John
10:10).

How do evil spirits interfere with our lives? Let me answer with
a simple illustration. Imagine that you are standing at one end
of a long, narrow street lined on both sides with two-story row
houses. At the other end of the street stands Jesus Christ, and
your Christian life is the process of walking down that long
street of maturity toward Him. There is absolutely nothing in the
street which can keep you from reaching Jesus. So, when you
receive Christ, you fix your eyes on Him and start walking.

But since this world is still under the dominion of Satan, the
row houses on either side of you are inhabited by beings who are
committed to keeping you from reaching your goal. They have no
power or authority to block your path or even slow your step, so
they hang out of the windows and call to you, hoping to turn your
attention away from your goal and disrupt your progress by
tempting you, accusing you and deceiving you.

What is the enemy's goal in having his demons jeer you, taunt
you, lure you, and question you from the windows and doorways
along your path? He wants you to slow down, stop, sit down, and,
if possible, give up your journey toward Christ. He wants to
influence you to doubt your ability to believe and serve God.
Remember: he has absolutely no power or authority to keep you
from steadily progressing in your walk toward Christ. And he can
never again own you, because you have been redeemed by Jesus
Christ and you are forever in Him (1 Peter 1:18, 19). But if he
can get you to listen to the thoughts he plants in your mind, he
can influence you. And if you allow him to influence you long
enough through temptation, accusation and deception, he can
control you.

If I could influence you to believe a lie, could I control your
life? Yes. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfecter
of faith" (Hebrews 12:2) and take "every thought captive to the
obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Lord, I know this world is a crazy, unsafe place, full of
obstacles and impediments. I trust You today to protect me from
the enemy, to light my path, and to watch over me with Your sure
presence.