Week of Monday, May15 – Sunday, May 21
Stand and Shine – Man as Defender
Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action… And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 11:31-32, 12:3 ESV)
Corporal Kevin Clarke’s story is one to remember. He wanted to do one last thing before his Marine platoon embarked on a mission while deployed in Iraq. He asked a fellow Marine to print out his personal testimony. Corporal Clarke was killed in action on that mission, and that statement of faith was his parting message to his friends, his family, and the world. The testimony was circulated among the Marines, sent to his parents, and even printed at his funeral, preserving the story of his faith and promoting the glory of his God. A life lived in honor and obedience to God leaves an indelible mark on the world and inscribes a message that can never be erased.
In these challenging times, we are not unlike a soldier in uniform deployed to do damage to the forces of darkness all around us – even to the death. I love this verse from Daniel: “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (11:32). While it is important to understand Bible prophecy and impart wisdom as to the signs of the times to those in our charge, it is also important as Defenders to “stand firm and take action” until God takes us home.
Obviously, we can’t do anything to alter God’s plans and purposes for the end times. Nor should we try. All that we have been reading in Daniel’s prophetic visions either has been fulfilled or will be fulfilled in the future. That is a certainty. We cannot stop the coming global deception along with the Great Tribulation of the last days or the arrival of this sinister world leader in Daniel’s prophecy referred to as the “abomination that makes desolate” (11:31), better known as the Antichrist. Indeed, the apostle John tells us that the “spirit of Antichrist” is already in the world today (1 John 4:3).
However, as Defenders there are some things we can and should do. As Daniel 11:32 suggests, we need to “know our God.” This calls for spending quality time with the Lord, careful study of His word and in prayer, asking Him to reveal Himself as we obey Him. We need some CQD or “Close Quarter Devotional” time to know our God. Then we need to “stand firm.” Don’t let the devil’s deception or his attacks dislodge you from your place or your post. Then notice we are also to “take action.” Don’t just hunker in your bunker like some monk in perpetual prayer and Bible study. We need to move from CQD to CQB, from Close Quarter Devotions to Close Quarter Battle. Empowered by our time with God, we must armor up and fight that spirit of Antichrist wherever and whenever it manifests.
When the presence of evil raises its ugly head, what we do next as Defenders will make a lasting impact on those who look to us for leadership. Just as Corporal Clarke, who wrote his personal testimony for his family and fellow Marines and then gave his life in the fight for freedom, each one of us is drafting a personal testimony by our words and deeds for our loved ones and battle buddies to consider and hopefully follow. As we “stand firm and take action” against the deception and deeds of demon-inspired forces, may our example encourage others to follow the path of righteousness and bring honor to God. Our goal as men is expressed well in Daniel 12:3: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Men, if we stand now, one day we will shine!
- What are you doing to “know your God, stand firm, and take action” against the deception and deeds of darkness? What steps can you take to not only get in some CQD with the Lord but also do some CQB with the enemy of our souls?
- What kind of legacy are you accumulating for your family and battle buddies? Is your example as a Defender inspiring others to follow the path of righteousness and push back against the darkness?
- Ask God for the courage to “stand firm and take action” against the rising tide of evil and the spirit of Antichrist in our day and enlist others in the fight.
Stand and Shine – Man as Defender
Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action… And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 11:31-32, 12:3 ESV)
Corporal Kevin Clarke’s story is one to remember. He wanted to do one last thing before his Marine platoon embarked on a mission while deployed in Iraq. He asked a fellow Marine to print out his personal testimony. Corporal Clarke was killed in action on that mission, and that statement of faith was his parting message to his friends, his family, and the world. The testimony was circulated among the Marines, sent to his parents, and even printed at his funeral, preserving the story of his faith and promoting the glory of his God. A life lived in honor and obedience to God leaves an indelible mark on the world and inscribes a message that can never be erased.
In these challenging times, we are not unlike a soldier in uniform deployed to do damage to the forces of darkness all around us – even to the death. I love this verse from Daniel: “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (11:32). While it is important to understand Bible prophecy and impart wisdom as to the signs of the times to those in our charge, it is also important as Defenders to “stand firm and take action” until God takes us home.
Obviously, we can’t do anything to alter God’s plans and purposes for the end times. Nor should we try. All that we have been reading in Daniel’s prophetic visions either has been fulfilled or will be fulfilled in the future. That is a certainty. We cannot stop the coming global deception along with the Great Tribulation of the last days or the arrival of this sinister world leader in Daniel’s prophecy referred to as the “abomination that makes desolate” (11:31), better known as the Antichrist. Indeed, the apostle John tells us that the “spirit of Antichrist” is already in the world today (1 John 4:3).
However, as Defenders there are some things we can and should do. As Daniel 11:32 suggests, we need to “know our God.” This calls for spending quality time with the Lord, careful study of His word and in prayer, asking Him to reveal Himself as we obey Him. We need some CQD or “Close Quarter Devotional” time to know our God. Then we need to “stand firm.” Don’t let the devil’s deception or his attacks dislodge you from your place or your post. Then notice we are also to “take action.” Don’t just hunker in your bunker like some monk in perpetual prayer and Bible study. We need to move from CQD to CQB, from Close Quarter Devotions to Close Quarter Battle. Empowered by our time with God, we must armor up and fight that spirit of Antichrist wherever and whenever it manifests.
When the presence of evil raises its ugly head, what we do next as Defenders will make a lasting impact on those who look to us for leadership. Just as Corporal Clarke, who wrote his personal testimony for his family and fellow Marines and then gave his life in the fight for freedom, each one of us is drafting a personal testimony by our words and deeds for our loved ones and battle buddies to consider and hopefully follow. As we “stand firm and take action” against the deception and deeds of demon-inspired forces, may our example encourage others to follow the path of righteousness and bring honor to God. Our goal as men is expressed well in Daniel 12:3: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Men, if we stand now, one day we will shine!
- What are you doing to “know your God, stand firm, and take action” against the deception and deeds of darkness? What steps can you take to not only get in some CQD with the Lord but also do some CQB with the enemy of our souls?
- What kind of legacy are you accumulating for your family and battle buddies? Is your example as a Defender inspiring others to follow the path of righteousness and push back against the darkness?
- Ask God for the courage to “stand firm and take action” against the rising tide of evil and the spirit of Antichrist in our day and enlist others in the fight.