Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The experience of working in a slum often reminds me of this verse. I see many men and women struggling to leave addiction. They are living in a cycle of addiction, which they pass on to the next generation. Satan doesn’t build a wall in a day, but he slowly builds it, brick by brick. Many times, even after professing faith in Jesus, they promise to live a better life, but again fall into the same trap of addiction. As a consequence, they quarrel, beat, and abuse. Indeed, in our flesh we are weak. Satan often moves around us like a roaring lion. Meditating on this verse reminds me “to watch” doesn’t mean to just see. It means to be careful, aware, alert, and consciously praying for God to cover us so we can overcome temptations. If we are not alert, we may slip. When, where, and how Satan can enter is very difficult to know. Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot, even though he was a disciple. Ananias and Sapphira were actively involved with the apostles in the early Church. Still, they fell. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Let us be watchful so we do not fall into temptation. Prayer is the only way, through the power of Holy Spirit, to conquer our weakness.

Haggai made me rethink why I exist on this earth. The equipping made me learn how each Christian must share the Gospel.