Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NIV
Submit and Resist
The Canadian Criminal Code under section 34 allows individuals to commit an offence “for the purpose of defending or protecting themselves” or another person from threats of force. However, the amount of force used should be proportionate to the nature of the threat. In addition to this, individuals are restricted from claiming self-defence against law enforcement, unless the law enforcement officer is acting “unlawfully.” It is upon the prosecution to decide whether the officer was in the execution of their duties when the arrest was made or not.
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You don’t have to be a Christian very long, desiring to live a life that honours the Lord Jesus, to realize that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and the battleground is our heart. The more we desire to live a holy life, the more temptation comes our way. Jesus certainly understood this and was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fully experience what it means to be human and deal with this battle. Too often we lose the battle and temptation leads to sin – in what we say, or do, or think. The good news is that the Bible gives very clear advice about how to walk in spiritual victory. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When temptation comes, we must first recognize that we cannot overcome in our own power – we must submit to God fully and allow Him to fight our battle. Only then can we stand against the temptation, resisting the tempter in God’s provision. When faced with God, the devil will flee.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley