Hello again,
After some really nice weather early in the week, there was a drastic change in the temperature, along with some very windy conditions. It’s hard to remember if I’ve seen these kinds of contrasts before. Usually, after a cold early winter, we get a “January thaw”. I don’t think there has been anything to thaw so far this winter. Even with the cold of the last two days, I can’t think there is much frost in the ground.
I’ve been setting up a new computer this week. Very early in the process, I was encouraged to install an anti-virus program. I started thinking about what an anti-virus program does. In effect, it keeps unwanted people from getting in and messing up your computer.
Applied to the Christian, an anti-virus program would keep wrong thoughts and actions out of our minds and our hearts. Guess what? God has an anti-virus program. It includes his word, and his Spirit. At the moment of salvation, God permanently installs his Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer, and by faithfully and consistently reading the Bible, the “program” is regularly updated.
Many Christians, however, fall short in the Bible reading part, so their adversary, Satan, is able to corrupt their thinking, and it shows up in their actions.
Many of the anti-virus programs I’ve seen, use a shield as part of their logo. In Ephesians chapter 6, we read these words: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:13-18).
We Christians have God’s “anti-virus program” installed, it is up to us to keep it updated. With all the attacks coming upon Christians today, it would be wise for us to keep our defenses current, by being continually in prayer and in the reading and study of His word.
In His power,
Pastor Jerry
sandhillspastor 