Christmas and spiritual warfare: Why Jesus came as a warrior baby

12/3/2010 Loving God Journal

Learn - 

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 
I John 3:8b

Observe - 

It's almost Christmas.  Why did Jesus come?  This passage tells us why.  He came on a mission to destroy the works of the devil.  His mission was all-out war.  He was a "warrior baby."

John's first focus in this passage is that we should be righteous.  Sin in our personal lives is a product of the initial selfish, rebellious path of Satan.  When we practice sin, we are following that path.

But Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil in our lives so that we will not practice sin, but practice righteousness.

The ESV Study Bible says, "The reason the Son of God appeared restates I John 3:5 but here specifies the connection of sin to the devil. Knowing Christ means becoming involved in an all-out war against the works of the devil, that is, the practice of sinning."

All-out war.  Does that truly describe my pattern of life?  Sadly, too often I have a peacetime mentality.  God, forgive me and change me.

So, if we are gong to be followers of Jesus, then we, too, must seek to destroy the works of the devil wherever we see them.  We, too, have "appeared" in this world to destroy the worked of the devil.  It's why we have been left on this planet.

Rick, Will you seek to destroy the works - the sin, the rebellion, the unrighteousness - of the devil in your own life and in the world around you?  How will you do this?

Value - Today, destroy the works of the devil.  It's all-out war!

Express - 

Lord Jesus, I praise You for coming into this world on that first Christmas.  You came as a warrior child.  Your mission was to destroy all that had stolen glory from Your Father. You came to destroy the works of the devil.  And You did it when You died on the cross and rose again.  You put to open shame the devil and his demons.  Now, You have saved me and You have called me to follow You on Your mission.  Forgive me for being passive, for forgetting that this is all-out war.  I want comfort and peace too often.  Cleanse me from my failure to join You in Your mission, for allowing the works of the devil to prevail in my life and world.  Help me, by Your grace and with Your strength, to join You in destroying the works of the devil wherever I see those dark works.  Let me see that I will either be joining the devil in destroying the works of God or I will be joining You in destroying the works of the devil.  So, today, I want to destroy some works of the devil.  And I know that I can do so by Your work me.  I yield to You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.