Two things from two fields of conflict have struck me recently. First the military strikes by Israel against Iran have been described as preemptive. However, from Israel’s perspective, there are already hostilities with Iran through the Iranians’ proxies in Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houtis.
Secondly, I noted an observation in the media recently that Russia probably already considers itself to be at war with the West. Linked to this is the often made comment that WW3 will have begun well before we know it. Indeed, my take is that the Cold War was that war by other means so we are perhaps in the 4th World War.
I’m not writing here to comment on the politics of such situations. Rather, I want to highlight that point. You are often at war, in conflict before you realise it. Often churches, families and marriages are in trouble long before it is apparent, even to those most intimately involved. A church split may be at least five years in the making it even rooted in actions and decisions made more than a decade previously.
Furthermore, we need to be alert to spiritual warfare. We are in conflict with sin, Satan and death but many of us do not seem to realize it. God’s Word calls us to be alert and ready.
Faithroots 