Holy Anger

Once He was approached by a leper, who knelt before Him begging His help. “If only You will,” said the man, “You can cleanse me.” In warm indignation Jesus stretched out His hand, [and] touched him. — Mark 1:40–41 NEB

I was in an emergency room late one night last week. 

Victims of Satan filled the halls. A child — puffy, swollen eyes. Beaten by her father. A woman — bruised cheeks, bloody nose. “My boyfriend got drunk and hit me,” she said, weeping. An old man — unconscious and drunk on a stretcher. He drooled blood in his sleep.

Jesus saw the victims of Satan too. He saw a leper one day... fingers gnarled... skin ulcerated... face disfigured. And He got indignant... angry. Not a selfish, violent anger. A holy anger... a controlled frustration... a compassionate disgust. And it moved Him. It moved Him to action.

I’m convinced that the same Satan stalks today, causing the hunger in Somalia... the confusion in the Mideast... the egotism on the movie screen... the apathy in Christ’s church.

And Satan giggles among the dying.

Dear Father,

May we never grow so “holy,” may we never be so “mature,” may we never become so “religious,” that we can see the footprints of Satan and stay calm.

~ On the Anvil

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When the Devil Draws Near

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. — James 4:7

When the Devil draws near, stand against him.

“What are you doing here? I am dead to you!”

Give him no quarter. Don’t take his lies. Don’t stand for his accusations. Don’t cower at his attacks. When he dredges up your past mistakes, tell him whose you are. He has no recourse to this truth. He knows who you are. He just hopes that you don’t or that you will forget. So prove to him that you know and remember. Tell him:

“I have been bought with a price. I belong to God” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

“I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“I cannot be separated from the love of God” (Romans 8:35).
“I can find grace and mercy in the time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

God’s people think like this. They walk with a reverent swagger. They live  out of their inheritance. They show the Devil the new name on their spiritual passport.

The secret of survival when the Devil draws near? Remember. Remember what God has done. 

Remember whose you are.

~ Glory Days

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Who Are You?

Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God. — Romans 6:11 NLT

Who are you?

I’m glad you asked. You are:

• God’s child (John 1:12),
• Christ’s friend (John 15:15),
• a member of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27),
• a saint (Ephesians 1:1),
• redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Colossians 1:14),
• complete in Christ, lacking in nothing (Colossians 2:10),
• free from condemnation (Romans 8:1–2),
• God’s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1),
• seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6),
• God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10),
• a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20),
• adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5),
• born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you (1 John 5:18).

Get acquainted with your new self.

~ Glory Days

Excerpted with permission from God Is with You Every Day by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

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Your Turn

It’s a righteous anger that’s pointed at the enemy’s wicked schemes. Jesus was and is righteously angry at the harm satan caused and causes. How do we stand against him? We speak the name of Jesus, we speak back against enemy lies, and we remember who we are in Christ! ~ Devotionals Daily