Resist Him!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

General Anthony C. McAuliffe, hero of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, out numbered four to one, had been ordered to hold the Belgian road hub of Bastogne against the bitter Nazi counteroffensive in the bitterly cold winter of 1944, and he did.

He and his 10,000 men faced the German panzers with food running short, medicine and ammunition almost exhausted. When a German officer arrived with a surrender ultimatum, McAuliffe quickly scrawled, “To the German Commander – Nuts!” The Americans hung on for five brutal days until the siege was finally broken.

For his perseverance, General McAuliffe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General George S. Patton, the rescuing commander.

God in Christ gives His people the power to endure, persevere, and resist, the power to negate the negatives. In 1 Peter 5:6-10 (ESV), Peter writes:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

We are facing times when morality, decency, reasonableness, and common sense are under severe attack. Which also means that we, as Christians, when we hold to the ways of our God and Savior, are also under attack. We are being described as extremists, radicals, and out of touch with the progressive direction of society.

But God’s ways are not the ways of this world or the ways of modern society.

So the Holy Spirit, through Peter, urges us to resist and stand firm in our faith in Christ, trusting in Him and His Word for our strength and direction. Remember that God Himself will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Let us trust, rely on, and follow Him alone!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Paul Pett 

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