“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Ephesians 6:11
One of my incarcerated friends told me, “In prison, I come face to face with evil every day.” I don’t think there is a man in the entire facility who would disagree. The world is tainted by evil, and prisons seem to be drenched in it.
In his book The Lord’s Prayer, Wesley Hill says that evil is not just a force. “The Bible everywhere speaks of evil … as personal” (2019). Evil was personal from the outset of time to today in your life and mine.
Adam and Eve were tempted by a speaking serpent. Job’s sufferings were instigated by an adversary. Paul said we struggle against “powers of this dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil.” Peter said our “enemy the devil prowls around, looking … for someone to devour.”
So when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one,” He was referring to a personal, evil being, a persistent enemy who is unmoved by our practice of Christian disciplines. We take a militant stand against him, putting on the armor of God for the fight, armor that is completely effective because it is Jesus!
In his book The Lord’s Prayer, Wesley Hill says that evil is not just a force. “The Bible everywhere speaks of evil … as personal” (2019). Evil was personal from the outset of time to today in your life and mine.
Adam and Eve were tempted by a speaking serpent. Job’s sufferings were instigated by an adversary. Paul said we struggle against “powers of this dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil.” Peter said our “enemy the devil prowls around, looking … for someone to devour.”
So when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one,” He was referring to a personal, evil being, a persistent enemy who is unmoved by our practice of Christian disciplines. We take a militant stand against him, putting on the armor of God for the fight, armor that is completely effective because it is Jesus!
Scripture Focus
Ephesians 6:10-17
Insight
Overcoming evil will require more than having regular quiet times. The enemy is real, but our Lord is greater than he who is in the world.
Bible In A Year
- Leviticus 9-10
- Psalm 50
- Luke 14
