February 25

Whether you like it or not, you must go into the ring with Satan. He has not only a general malice against the army of saints, but a particular spite against every single child of God. As our Lord delights to have private communion with His saint, so the devil delights to challenge the Christian when he gets him alone. The whole issue of your spiritual destiny is personal and particular. You give Satan a dangerous advantage if you see his wrath and fury bent in general against the saints, and not against you specifically: Satan hates me; Satan accuses me; Satan tempts me. Conversely, you lose much comfort when you fail to see the promises and providences of God as available for your own specific needs: God loves me; God takes care of me. The water supply for the town will do you no personal good unless you have a pipe that carries it to your own house. Let it serve as both a caution and a comfort to know your spiritual combat is singular.

Second, wrestling is a close combat. Armies fight at some distance; wrestlers grapple hand-to-hand. You may be able to dodge an arrow shot from a distance, but when the enemy actually has hold of you, you must either resist manfully or fall shamefuly at his feet. When Satan comes after you, he moves in close, takes hold of your very flesh and corrupt nature, and by this shakes you.

"We wrestle" encompasses everyone. You may have noticed that the apostle changes the pronoun "ye" in the former verse, into "we" in this, that he may include himself. He wants you to know the quarrel is with every saint. Satan neither fears to assault the minister nor disdains to wrestle with the lowliest saint in the congregation. Great and small, minister and people, all must wrestle-- not one part of Christ's army in the heat of battle and the other at ease in their quarters.

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