January 29, 2025
“So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!”
-1 Kings 13:4a (NKJV)
We are called to rest only after completing our God given assignment. Taking rest prematurely is considered an unlawful rest. While pursuing a divine assignment, we should expect opposition. Opposition seeks to frustrate or thwart the execution of our assignment, preventing us from entering into rest.
Opposition can take various forms, whether physically manifested or spiritually unseen as described in Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”
Regardless of its form, opposition is part of our experience and serves as confirmation that we have been sent by God and are indeed, on divine assignment. The divine nature of our assignment does not exempt us from encountering resistance.
In 1King13, the young prophet whom God had sent to prophesy against the altar in Bethel faced opposition from King Jeroboam (1kings 13:4A). Similarly, Moses tasked with liberating the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, encountered opposition from Pharaoh (Exodus 5:2) and even from the Israelites themselves (Exodus 5:20-22), despite the miraculous signs God performed to equip him for the task.
Opposition exists for everyone; our response must be perseverance.
As believers in Christ, we are in a perpetual state of opposition from our adversary, the devil. Revelation 12:17 reminds us: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
We must learn to view opposition as a normal part of our journey. More importantly, we must understand that as long as we remain in Christ, opposition will not prevail against us.
God assured Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:19: “They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you”
Opposition exists for everyone, regardless of who we are and what we do. Our response must be perseverance. We are called to press on toward our goal, as Paul describes in Philippians 3:12-14:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
By steadfastly pressing on and resisting unlawful rest, we ensure that we complete the assignment God has entrusted to us.
Song of Worship
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground
Prayer - Dear Lord, help me to understand that as a Christian on a divine assignment, I will face opposition but that it will not prevail against me. Give me the strength and grace to overcome opposition at all times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.