Waging War

You should examine yourself.   1 Corinthians 11:28

Imagine yourself on the field of battle in the desert. About a mile ahead of you, the enemy has dug in, and you’ve been charged to reclaim that ground. Obviously, the enemy is not going to stand on top of his bunker, wave his flag, and invite you to fire at him, so your first task is to identify the enemy’s position.

This is precisely how we’re to approach the campaign against sin in our lives. We have to get specific. We are to identify the positions sin may have taken up in our souls so that we may launch an assault against them in the power of the Spirit.

God has given us a checklist of what to look for when we examine ourselves. It’s called the Ten Commandments. Here are some questions you may use to examine yourself in the light of God’s commands:

• “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:7). Have I become flippant or casual about the things of God? Does God carry weight in my life?
• “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). How does my use of time reflect the place I’ve given to God in my life? When in the last week have I given God my focused attention? Could someone sustain a quality relationship with a spouse on this basis?
• “You must not murder” (Exodus 20:13). What has made me angry this week? (Jesus related murder to issues of anger—see Matthew 5:21-24.) How did I respond? Have I forgiven the offender, or am I becoming bitter? Am I angry with anybody now? What can I do to promote reconciliation?

No matter how long you’ve been a Christian, the enemy will always attempt to establish new footholds in your life. The trouble is that many Christians are waiting for God to make them holy, not realizing that God is calling them into battle. But God’s promise is that as you engage in this warfare, you’ll prevail, and you’ll increasingly reflect the likeness of God: “All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14).

For further reading, see Exodus 20