Families Under Attack

Battles against terrorism and other destructive influences in the physical world are not even half the story. We know that we are also in a spiritual battle. God's arch-enemy Satan is the ultimate terrorist, intent on bringing to ruin anything God chooses and cherishes. He works from the inside out, assaulting our minds and hearts, tempting us to sins of commission and omission, tantalizing us to compromise our obedience to Christ. We must be constantly on guard against this scheming devil whose mission is to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).

No wonder Jesus offered warning after warning during his earthly ministry. Be on your guard, he said, against hypocrisy (Matthew 16:6-12), against greed (Luke 12:15), against persecution from others (Matthew 10:17), against false teaching (Mark 13:22-23), and against spiritual laziness and being unprepared for the Lord's return (Mark 13:32-37). "Be careful," he said in Luke 21:34, "or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation [another word for wild living], drunkenness, and the anxieties of life [wildness may not be your problem, but maybe worry is]" (NIV).

The same caution echoes throughout the Scriptures. Take note and let each warning sink in:

Be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV).

Be careful to do what is right (Romans 12:17 NIV).

Be very careful, then, how you live (Ephesians 5:15 NIV).

Be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short (Hebrews 4:1 NIV).

Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you (Deuteronomy 5:32 NIV).

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV).

Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law (Joshua 23:6 NIV).

I am the Lord your God;...be careful to keep my laws (Ezekiel 20:19 NIV).

Give careful thought to your ways (Haggai 1:5 NIV).

Be careful. Watch out. Be on guard. Because if you don't get hit today, you can bet you will be hit tomorrow or the day after. This is no action-adventure movie we're living in; it really is a hazardous and dangerous world out there.

The text above is an excerpt from a new book entitled Guard Your Heart by Dr. Gary Rosberg. Gary is the founder and CEO of America's Family Coaches. TheGreatMarriageExperience.com

Click HERE to read Gary's message on "Cutting Through the Fog".

Photo Credit - Spiritual Warfare: The Unseen Battle In Our World