The Enemy Within

The people of France, in the wake of the shootings in the Toulouse area, are looking for the enemy within. It seems that there is a serial killer on the loose, who targets people from minority communities. 

The people of Iraq, after yet more sectarian bombings, face the horror of people from one community who wish people from the other communities dead. 

Many people in Syria fear that when their stable but repressive system is shaken, their very diversity will lead to terrible blood-letting, as diverse communities struggle for supremacy. They fear the enemy within.

But all of us face an enemy within, and we need help to deal with this powerful force for evil.

Jesus spoke of the dangers faced by communities divided against themselves.  “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.' (Luke 11.17)

But Jesus then applied this observation to His own ministry of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. ' But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. (Luke 11.20-22)

In our troubled and divided world, we can all know that Jesus has the power not to destroy us, but to deal with the enemy within us, our spiritual enemy whose desire is our own ruin. 

Today, Jesus can set us free, to serve Him and our world. That is good news.

Best wishes,

Richard