Daily Devotional

In my travels I have visited several ancient ruins, including the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, more commonly known as the Colosseum. During those ancient battles, the gladiators would sometimes fight in small rings within the much larger circular arenas. It is my understanding that this is where we the modern concept of a three-ring circus. Only in those days, these bloody battles to the death were hardly family entertainment. There are three arenas in which we fight three deadly battles:

 Battle #1. Men Against the Deeds of the Flesh: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these(Galatians 5:19-21).              

Battle #2. Me Against the Devil’s Tactics: doubt, discouragement and division) (1 Peter 5:8-9).      

Battle #3. Me Against the World’s Twisted Values: sex, money and power (1 John 2:15-17).  

Although the three battle fronts of our war against sin rages daily in each of our lives, I can assure you it is truly a winnable war (1 Corinthians 10:13), if we use the God-given tactics clearly presented in Scripture--Putting on the whole armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints…”

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation