Who's Your Enemy?
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” – Ephesians 6:12 (NET)
“You make me so angry!” How many times have I shouted this at my children or husband? Enough that if I had to pay them a dollar each time, I’d starve to death, and they’d be living in luxury. I wish it had not taken me so long to realize the enormity of the lie I had been hurling at my family.
Anger is a legitimate emotion; even God gets angry at times. While circumstances may provoke us, people do not choose our emotional response. Nor do they bear the responsibility for how we act out our emotions. Scripture tells us to “be angry and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). The Apostle Paul wrote this instruction before he wrote our verse of the day, Ephesians 6:12. This reminder of our real nemesis’ identity comes directly after two chapters on how we should treat our spouses, children, parents, and employers. Ouch!
Satan is devious but not very original. Remember how he tricked Eve into thinking she deserved something she didn’t? He stroked her pride. Then, after getting her husband to join her rebellion, Adam turned on her when they got caught. Adam—in pride—blamed God for the mess he was in. Proverbs tells us, “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10).
Who do we find ourselves wrestling with most often? For me, it’s the people I’m with the most. Paul advises us well when he says that people are not the problem; satanic forces are. Satan strokes our pride; then he conquers and divides us by stoking our wrath against others.
Satan delights in dividing people from God and each other. Our true enemies don’t vote or run for office; people vote and run for office. Satan grins when we alienate people from God with political opinions—especially when expressed with an arrogant tone. When Jesus comes, it won’t be on an elephant or a donkey. He’s coming on a white horse, and many people around us are not ready for His return. The war we fight isn’t cultural or political; it’s spiritual. How we fight and who we fight has eternal consequences. So, let’s take up the battering ram of love, joy, and peace and storm the gates of hell. Sinners need salvation. Slaves to sin need freedom.
Remember who the real enemy is.
Questions for Reflection:
How can we use anger in a productive way that points people to Jesus?What can we do to maintain unity and the bond of peace in our communities? (See Ephesians 4:3.)
