"hold your ground" (eph 6:13)
"Certain Pharisees came to Him. 'Go on Your way!' they said. 'Leave this place!' " —Luke 13:31
When it comes to spiritual warfare, there is truth in the axiom: "Give him (Satan) an inch and he'll take a mile." Because God protects His servants when He sets them in their place, Satan can't budge us when we occupy the position God has for us. Therefore, Satan tempts us to move, to "leave this place" (Lk 13:31). If he can manipulate us into stepping out of God's position for us, then Satan will soon shove us as far away from God as he can.
Notice that Jesus was specifically tempted to "go" out of position and "leave this place." The Pharisees told Jesus that Herod was trying to kill Him (Lk 13:31). Jesus knew that, in His God-given position, no harm would come to Him until His hour had come. In addition, Satan tempted Jesus to fear death by Herod. It turned out that Jesus had nothing to fear from Herod, for when Herod had a golden opportunity to actually kill Jesus, he didn't kill Him or even harm Him (see Lk 23:7-12). How often is that true with us? How much energy do we waste on fears and threats which never come to pass? Notice Jesus' answer to the Pharisees: "I must proceed on course" (Lk 13:33). Jesus didn't budge an inch.
Ask God if you are in the place He wants you to be. If not, follow His directions to get into that place very soon. Then "hold your ground" (Eph 6:13). "Stand fast" (Eph 6:14). "Stand firm" (Eph 6:11). "Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you...The Lord Himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still" (Ex 14:13-14).
Prayer: Father, I will put on Your armor so as "to stand firm against the tactics of the devil" (Eph 6:11).
Promise: "Hold faith up before you as your shield; it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one." —Eph 6:16
Praise: Despite his terminal cancer, Father John continued to perform as much of his ministry to his parishioners as possible.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by one of our editors.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard L. Klug, April 10, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 18, 2002