Daily Bible Verses for 8/9/2016

Bible Verse
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Reading Notes
This passage appears at the end of Paul’s letter to the Roman church. Paul had just finished explaining the foundations of the Christian faith. And in this last section in particular, Paul was explaining the practical application of Christian living. Paul concludes his letter with a benediction reminding them of God’s promise which is Jesus Christ will crush Satan underfoot. What Paul means to say is if we have faith and trust in God. If we learn God’s wisdom through the study of His word, if we follow God’s guidance through obedience to the Holy Spirit, and if we have a true love for Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Then we have what we need for the spiritual warfare that lies ahead. God through the power Holy Spirit, will crush the influence of Satan in our lives. He will do so, if we will place our trust in Christ and follow His guidance. We have to remember what James explains to us in the first chapter of his epistle. James tells us we will experience various trials because of the fallen world we live in.

However, if we remain steadfast in our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, God will help us to make it through the trial at hand. And by doing so, the Lord builds up perseverance within us, thereby making us more effective for His kingdom work. As followers of Jesus and children of God, adopted into the family of God through faith. We have to remember we have three enemies who will attack us as we walk with the Lord. These enemies are the fallen world, Satan and those demons who follow him as well as our sin nature. Together they will cause chaos, turmoil and tribulation, especially in the lives of Christians. Therefore, we are to place our complete trust in Christ alone, arm ourselves with the word of God, keep ourselves in constant prayer and follow the guidance of God through our submission to the direction of the Holy Spirit. And we do so knowing, that the time of Christ’s return is near. Jesus will crush Satan underfoot, just as He has already overcome the power of sin. This means, we must look to Jesus, keeping our eyes focused on Him alone, in order that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may finish well the race God has set before us.