Thought For The Week

In the morning hours of December 7, 1941 a Japanese submarine was discovered and attacked by a US ship right outside Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Soon after the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the harbor rendering 15 US ships sunken or damaged and destroying 188 war planes. The number of casualties was staggering, 1,282 wounded along with 2,403 killed. This grievous act of aggression resulted in a declaration of war against Japan and be called the date that “will live in infamy” by then President Franklin Roosevelt. December 7th is now a national holiday that remembers this fateful day.

As the church of Christ we are called a “Holy Nation” (1 Peter 2:9) and are comprised of God’s special people who are designated to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. But as with any prominent country we have a spiritual enemy that wants to conquer and destroy us. Satan, the roaring predator that is ready to attack at any moment of weakness patiently waits for us (1 Peter 5:8). His armory is filled with the best weapons of temptation. Pleasure, self-satisfaction, lust, hypocrisy, riches and error are to name but a few of the things the devil is ready to launch our way.

With awareness of such an enemy the church is to be ready to fight this spiritual warfare at the first sense of attack. We are told to “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) Outfitted with the truth, gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit we can and will defeat Satan. James wrote, “Resist the devil (stand up to him) and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Christians can celebrate victory over Satan through a strong and fortified faith (1 John 5:4) and know that we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ” (Romans 8:37)

Jay Launius 2019, Maud church of Christ, Maud, Texas