The Life Of Faith Is Never An Easy Life.

The life of faith is never an easy life. We have to do battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. We see the influence of the world in Exodus 17:3 - "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt... ?" We may also see this as the influence of the flesh. The world appeals to our desire for the things of the flesh. The influence of the world and the flesh is also seen in Psalm 22. We see the Psalmist's feeling that God is far from him - "Why are You so far from saving me... ?" (Psalm 22:1). The Psalmist's sense of abandonment is seized upon by the world - "All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads" (Psalm 22:7). The ultimate origin of temptation is the devil - Jesus was "tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:13). In our conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil, we, like Jesus - "angels attended Him" (Mark 1:13) - can know the strength and victory which God gives.