James 4:7 ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’

DAILY READING – John 18:1-18; 2 Chronicles 26; Psalm 83

In the days of king Solomon, vineyards were very important, and vine owners did everything they could to protect them. Lots of things could harm the growing grapes such as bears, thieves, wind and other natural disasters. So, the farmers would come up with a plan to protect against the big threats. But, it was not the big things that were the real problem. While the grapes were growing, little foxes would sneak in at night, under the cover of darkness, and gnaw on the tendrils and eat the flowers before the grapes were set — destroying the entire harvest in a single night.

In the same way, the greatest danger Christians today face are not the so-called “big sins” but the little foxes that can quietly slip into one’s life. This is why we need to guard our heart with all diligence.

Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’

A frog put into boiling hot water,  will jump right out. However, if you put a frog in cool water and then slowly raise the temperature, it will stay right there until it boils to death. The enemy knows that many Christians may not jump in and commit a major sin — but, if he started out with little white lies, then eventually it could get to the point where sin completely filled the life of the Christian and ruined his walk and witness.

1 Cor 5:6 says, ” Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

The accumulation of little foxes can spoil the vine. Fleeting thoughts that may seem harmless now, can bring  down a great Christian testimony. Therefore  give no room to the devil.

Some have said it is not possible for a believer to live with out sinning and have said rather a saint is a sinner who sins less, but that is not true. God’s will is not that we sin less — God’s will is that we do not sin at all. All unrighteousness is sin.

In John 8:11 Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more!”

If Jesus says it is possible to sin no more, then it is. Jesus has given us the power to resist the enemy and overcome sin.

James 4:7 says ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’.

We have a spiritual responsibility to resist the enemy. Through Christ we can do all things including to overcome sin. You are born again to manifest the holiness and righteousness of God. You are born again to be a light to your world. But you cannot be a light if you are a slave to sin and temptation.  You are who God says you are and you can do what God says you can do. And if God has called you a ‘chosen generation and a holy nation,’ so are you.

And it is through feeding on The Word of God that our minds can be daily renewed to live righteous and holy. God’s Word carries sanctifying virtues. In John 17:17 Jesus said ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth’.

And in John 15:3 Jesus also says ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you’

Furthermore the Scriptures tells us in Psalms 119:9 ‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.’

And Psalms 119:11 says ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’

All these scripture verses help us to understand that the war with sin can be won through The Word. Every struggle with the small foxes of sin can be overcome as we hide The Word of God in our heart.  It doesn’t matter the depth of bondage, when you consciously engage the power of Christ, the yoke and hold of sin will be broken easily off you. The truth is that you can walk out on the devil anytime. Therefore, enough of toying with sin. Enough of harboring small foxes. It is time to get serious with God. It is time to embark on holy living. Therefore make up your mind today to commit to spending more time in God’s Word. Indeed the more we hide the Word of God in our hearts, the more we will win the victory over sin and temptation.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always pursue holiness and righteousness in all I do. As I spend more time in Your Word, the little foxes of sin will never gain a hold on my life in Jesus name. .

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The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you