To follow Jesus is to enter into a battle. That is clear from the section you will read today. Wherever Jesus went he encountered serious demonic activity, as well as fierce human opposition. It was probably his presence in the area that stirred up the demonic forces. When you step into God’s purpose and begin to do the things that he has prepared for you to do, you will inevitably stir up a hornet’s nest of opposition. Those who seek to serve can never have any doubt that they are in a battle. We need not fear, however, for we will win the war. But here is how to win the individual battles. To win a battle you need two things. First you need commitment (verses 57-62). Commitment is an expression of love: you must never give up on God or people. The second is humility. You must become like a child. The more childlike you are in any situation the greater the possibility that you will win. The way to engage with a challenge is not by rising up but by stooping down in humility and love. You must face every challenge with the faith of a small child. It’s ironic but true that, in the most important battles of life, it is the weakest who win, not the strongest. Face your next challenge like a small child and God’s purpose will prevail in you. It may be costly for you, you may lose a lot, you may suffer great injustice, but the Kingdom will have prevailed through you. That is how you win.
Reflect on this in the face of whatever challenge you may be facing right now.
Read Luke 9:37-62
