The world is a dangerous place, and I am not talking about the overwhelming crime committed by violent people.  That this world is physically dangerous is a foregone conclusion.  Of all of God’s creation, only man is guilty of such atrocities as genocide.  We treat each other in ways that the wildest animals on earth do not.  That is a disturbing thought, isn’t it?  Greed, lust, selfishness, and pride cause man to act worse than beasts.   However, I am not referring to the physical danger of this present world.

The world is a dangerous place for Christians because of the many threats to the salvation of our souls.  Leading the charge against us is the devil.  Peter reminds us of his presence in this world.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
⁸Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Sin and temptation are his primary tools, and we are surrounded by both of them.  How do we survive in a world where Satan is constantly striving to devour us?  We must do all that we can not to invite the devil into our lives.  Paul admonishes us not to give Satan an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27).  While he is always on the prowl, we are not defenseless against him.  We can and must resist.

James 4:7 (ESV)
⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Our resistance begins by arming ourselves for the battle.

Ephesians 6:11-17 (ESV)
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Do you know who puts on armor?  Those who are at war and in a battle.  The problem with some Christians is that they forget that they are at war.  Not only must we put on the whole armor of God, but we must put it on daily.  Every morning we wake up and go out into the world, the devil is waiting for us.  Do not think you can defeat him on your own.  Before Paul tells us to put the armor on, he says, “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).  And after he tells us to put on the armor, he tells us to pray at all times (Ephesians 6:18), a way of tapping into His might and protecting ourselves from the devil’s arrows.

How should we live in this sinful world as God’s children?  It is not easy, but it is simple—we live as Christians every day, putting God first and obeying His Word.  We cannot just be Christians when we are around brethren.  We live, act, dress, talk, and walk as Christians wherever we go.  Whether we are going to work, school, or just out to the store, we should live by the gospel.  Some will be offended by us, while others might appreciate our sincerity, but no matter the reaction, living as Christians every day in all situations and circumstances is the only way to prevail against Satan and sin.

Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.