Yesterday, as I stood in my driveway waving goodbye to one of my music students and his mom, a big bull elk ambled onto our yard.
I recognized the massive beast right away because he frequently stands in the middle of our street and refuses to budge when cars need to get up or down the way.
He must be pretty old because he's got six points on his antlers and he bears scars from many battles from other bulls.
Unlike the deer, a bull elk is not afraid of people. Well, at least the elk that live around Estes Park.
As he made his way nearer, he swayed his antlers from side to side, kind of like a swagger.
As if to say, "I'm the biggest, baddest king of the hill you've ever seen...and I don't expect that you're gonna make trouble for me."
He lowered his massive head and mouthed the dry grasses in my yard.
I called Bruce to come look.
There was just something about this particular bull that commanded my respect and admiration.
As Bruce approached to take this photo, keeping a respectful distance, the bull ignored him.
After all, what threat does a six foot, 200 hundred pound man pose when you have antlers and weigh close to six or seven hundred pounds?
This bull elk knows that he is armed, that he can resist all comers.
Because he's fought many battles and come out the victor.
He has what it takes.
What a lesson for us.
Are we equally unafraid and unintimidated by our adversary, the Devil?
As Believers, do we know—deep down in our core— that we possess the power to fight and win?
When our enemy approaches, do we know that the power that resides in us—from God's Spirit—is more than capable to bring us through battle and present us before our Savior clean and victorious?
Or do we cower and forget that we are armed and ready because of what Christ has done on the cross?
Our Choice
As Christians, Christ has empowered us to choose to be strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10)
(It is possible for Christians to live weak, fruitless, fearful lives because they choose to rely only on their own human power.)
But...
Then we are unafraid—like the big bull elk— because we have been armed with God's spiritual defenses.
"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11 NIV Bible)
I recognized the massive beast right away because he frequently stands in the middle of our street and refuses to budge when cars need to get up or down the way.
He must be pretty old because he's got six points on his antlers and he bears scars from many battles from other bulls.
Unlike the deer, a bull elk is not afraid of people. Well, at least the elk that live around Estes Park.
As he made his way nearer, he swayed his antlers from side to side, kind of like a swagger.
As if to say, "I'm the biggest, baddest king of the hill you've ever seen...and I don't expect that you're gonna make trouble for me."
He lowered his massive head and mouthed the dry grasses in my yard.
I called Bruce to come look.
There was just something about this particular bull that commanded my respect and admiration.
As Bruce approached to take this photo, keeping a respectful distance, the bull ignored him.
After all, what threat does a six foot, 200 hundred pound man pose when you have antlers and weigh close to six or seven hundred pounds?
This bull elk knows that he is armed, that he can resist all comers.
Because he's fought many battles and come out the victor.
He has what it takes.
What a lesson for us.
Are we equally unafraid and unintimidated by our adversary, the Devil?
As Believers, do we know—deep down in our core— that we possess the power to fight and win?
When our enemy approaches, do we know that the power that resides in us—from God's Spirit—is more than capable to bring us through battle and present us before our Savior clean and victorious?
Or do we cower and forget that we are armed and ready because of what Christ has done on the cross?
Our Choice
As Christians, Christ has empowered us to choose to be strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10)
(It is possible for Christians to live weak, fruitless, fearful lives because they choose to rely only on their own human power.)
But...
- We must consciously choose to walk with Jesus,
- to live according to His example,
- to submit to His will,
- to put aside our selfish desires and live for Him,
- to learn to recognize the tactics of the devil and to be ready with the Word, the Sword of the Spirit, and to pray according to God's will.
Then we are unafraid—like the big bull elk— because we have been armed with God's spiritual defenses.
"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11 NIV Bible)
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