Good Morning Friends,
Today’s readings from Galatians 3 and Luke 11 place us right in the tension of Christian life: Christ has already won the decisive victory, yet we still feel the struggle. Keller often reminds us that grace does not remove the battle, it changes the battleground. Wright would say that the victory of Jesus launches a new creation, but we still live in the overlap of the ages. So why do we still fight?
Because the battle is not imaginary. It is spiritual and embodied, woven into our daily decisions, our words, and our loves. And yet—if God is with us—the conflict need not undo us. So look honestly at your life, your habits, your fears, and ask: If Christ has already triumphed, why do I still feel the war within?
Scripture Summary
Galatians 3:7–14 Paul argues that those who trust in Christ share in Abraham’s blessing. The law cannot justify us; only faith can. Christ took the curse upon Himself—“hung on a tree”—so that Jew and Gentile alike might receive the Spirit and live as God’s renewed people.
Luke 11:15–26 Jesus responds to accusations that He casts out demons by Satan’s power. A divided kingdom cannot stand. His works reveal that God’s kingdom has arrived with real authority. Evil is overthrown by One stronger than the “strong man,” yet Jesus warns that a life swept clean but left empty becomes vulnerable again.
Message: If Jesus has disarmed the powers, why do we still wrestle with evil? Keller would say: because the enemy gains ground whenever we surrender our hearts through fear, pride, or careless words. Wright would add: because we are called to live as citizens of God’s kingdom in a world still resisting His reign. Too often we are double‑minded, professing Christ’s victory while arming the enemy with our speech, our choices, and our divided loyalties. Words matter. In Luke, words accuse Jesus; in our lives, words either echo God’s truth or reinforce the enemy’s lies. When we speak God’s Word, we participate in His life-giving work. When we speak fear, cynicism, or resentment, we reinforce the darkness Christ has already defeated.
The battle is real, but its outcome is not in doubt. The drama of spiritual warfare is not about spectacle—it is about love. Knowledge, learning, even religious activity are hollow unless they lead us into deeper love for God and neighbor. Without love, even our attempts to “fix the world” become empty victories.
And So, yes, Christ has won. But we still fight because the kingdom is breaking in through us and our choices, our prayers, our courage, and our compassion. The war is won; the campaign continues. And the battleground is often inside us before it ever appears around us.
Pray we fight the good fight with clarity, not confusion. Pray we speak truth with love, resisting evil both around us and within us. Pray we seek God’s purpose in suffering and trust Him in uncertainty. Pray we are not double‑minded but anchored in Christ’s finished work. Pray we act as redeemed people—living, speaking, and loving as citizens of God’s kingdom. Pray we become victorious in the inner battle so that our words give life to God’s plan.
Blessings,
John Lawson
