Satan will sometimes blast us with hardships or sickness. But even more often (especially in our wealthy western countries), the enemy will reel us into his clutches with an easy life. A life of comfort leaves us lethargically dog paddling around in the shallow waters, tucked comfortably into our recliners watching tv… never getting deep, never questioning, never crying out to God. A comfortable life is perhaps the enemy’s most dangerous trap of all.

When we ARE in love with Jesus, seeking Him, and committed to following Him, Satan doesn’t usually bother with those obvious temptations. We’ll see right through those. But he doesn’t give up and go away. He just changes his strategy.

Nicky Gumbel says about today’s reading  in Acts 12 that “God’s answer involved visions, angels, and chains falling off.” He can do it again TODAY. He IS doing it again today… appointing His prophets, sending His angels, giving people visions and dreams… All across the world today spiritual chains are falling off! Hallelujah!

In Peter’s message to Cornelius, he again explained that Christ “is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Throughout the book of Acts, Peter explains over and over again that Jesus Christ is THE pathway to God and the way to salvation.

The Holy Spirit can be so much more powerful in our lives than many of us have ever experienced. The apostles had witnessed amazing miracles. Their faith in the power of God was so strong. They KNEW that nothing was too difficult for God. They were also completely sold out to Jesus Christ, willing to follow Him unto death. When we have such strong faith, such complete commitment to Jesus, such passion for God far surpassing our love for anything else, we can expect the Holy Spirit to do mighty things!

Sometimes God pursues certain people relentlessly. He did that with me. All the years I was running away from Him, God pursued me in a thousand different miraculous ways. He even sent four angels to save me when I died from a drug overdose many years ago. Through their divine help I was brought back to life in the hospital. God’s relentless pursuit is the most precious gift and I am so grateful. Not everyone get blinding light or angelic visitations. But in truth, God pursues EVERYONE. He has imprinted a message of His existence upon His glorious creation for all to see.

I recently had an interested conversation with a man of faith about the “fear of the LORD.” I’ve been meditating on it ever since. He said that people today try to explain away this bothersome Old Testament phrase… they argue that it means “to have awe and respect for God” rather than to be scared (like you would feel if you encountered something dangerous like a bear in the woods or someone who wanted to hurt you). I have made this very same argument in this very blog on multiple occasions… But no, he said, it really does mean FEAR, terrified, heart racing, pee in your pants FEAR (okay I added the “pee in your pants” part; the gentleman I was speaking to was way too polite to say that).

The enemy does not want to hear truth. The truth of Jesus Christ triggered the world then and it still triggers worldly people today. They stop up their ears, and gnash their teeth at it. Today they cancel, oppress, mock, slander, dox, deplatform, shadowban, suspend, boycott, and vilify the truth of Jesus Christ. We see it happening every day. The world boldly, unapologetically digitally stones anyone who dares to speak the truth of Jesus Christ. In Canada, pastors are already being arrested for refusing to shut their doors. We’ve been able to comfortably ignore persecution for most of our lives in this country. But now it is on our doorstep. Are you ready?

We find ourselves fallen, stuck here on this fallen planet, surrounded by fallen people. But God works through us anyway. There is much to be learned and gained from iron sharpening iron. Our character benefits when we get involved, stick it out despite the problems, and work to make OURSELVES lights that God can shine His love through.

“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self confident.” Proverbs 14:15-16

I always find myself thinking that Proverbs perfectly describes our social media today. And that is all I’m going to say about that!