Way of The Warrior- A Daily Devotional

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. -Romans 18:18-25 ESV

Warrior;
If you love God, then the world will hate you. By the world, I mean the system that governs society and this earthly kingdom. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4) You can either be friends with God, or friends with the world…it is time to choose your team!

Leader, if you are playing BIG FOR GOD IN THESE FINAL DAYS of our current dispensation, then you will be under attack. If your life is easy, and comfortable you might want to check your passport! If life is tough, you’re in good company. We’re not promised a trouble-free life. Don’t lose faith- because your life is a struggle. We must look forward to God’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven, upon the return of Christ. Consider this: Adam fell, Abel was murdered, Noah got drunk, Abraham lied and gave his wife away- a couple of times, Lot was incestuous, Jacob was deceitful. Wow, not an impressive resume, for the world…but we call this SANCTIFICATION- and God uses these struggles, these sins as a way to make us into the image of Christ see Romans 8;17 and 1 Peter 4:13: But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Conduit, the list goes on: Moses was a murderer, Miriam was a racist, Samson had a weakness for women, Naomi got bitter, Samuel’s kids were let downs, David got depressed, Solomon’s wives led him astray, Hezekiah was foolish, Jeremiah complained, Daniel was exiled, Hosea’s wife was a whore, Jonah ran from God, despised God’s mercy- and got angry when about one of the greatest revivals in the history of the world, John the Baptist was beheaded- and wondered at the end if Jesus was THE ONE, Paul had a thorn in the flesh, Peter was crucified upside down, John was imprisoned and died in a prison colony. And to top it all off, Isaiah, hundreds of years before the incarnation of Jesus told us who He was going to be in Isaiah 53: Jesus was a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but Jesus was homeless and had no place to lay His head so we tortured Him and gave Him a crown of Thorns and then HUNG HIM ON A TREE. He was tortured and killed. IF you are struggling, if you are wondering why the world is being blessed but your being buried, consider you are on the right side of HIS STORY! Soldier on and remember we are AMBASSADORS IN CHAINS- this is NOT our world; we are of a different KINGDOM!