Who is my enemy?

Many of us go through life thinking that everyone around us is our enemy, always plotting our downfall. Some of us think that our family, is our enemy; our spouse or the proverbial mother in law! Some of us believe so much in the devil that every bad thing that happens is attributed to devil.

Living this way, makes us feel good in our own eyes!

We seem to be the innocent and helpless victims who get a raw deal from everyone around! Shifting the blame on to somebody else, kind of absolves us of all responsibility for our actions!

But if you look at it carefully, we will realize the reality to be quite different.

The hatred I harbor in my heart breaks out in to harsh words. The envy in our heart reflects in our actions. Our miserly attitude reflects in our entertaining. Our own fears, insecurities and doubts are seen in our dealing with people and situations. If we look deep within, we can find the reason for every single action of ours! And every one of our actions bring reactions for sure!

Who then is my enemy? No one but we ourselves.

Paul captures this beautifully when he says in Romans 7:15-24, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do”. … “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

My friend, I have come to that point of despair many times. Unfortunately, when I first came to that point of despair I didn't ask the question Paul asked!

I only decided to try harder. I thought, If I would just count to ten or just go for a walk or stop and think, ‘What would Jesus do?’, then I would do the right thing! But then I realized the capacity to do what is right comes only by the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

My friend, take heart. The moment we realize our faults is just the beginning. Then when we bring them to the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit will work in our very hearts and lead us to victory. Then we too can thank Jesus Christ our Lord, along with Paul.

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 15th August 2017 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 16th August 2017

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