Have you ever protected someone, or maybe protected something? My family and I go to the gym three times a week, and usually my siblings and I play games with the other kids there such as dodgeball, sharks and minnows, or capture the flag. In capture the flag, the goal is to steal all the other team’s flags while simultaneously protecting your own team’s flags—which can definitely be tricky when there are so many people running around! The way I think of it, God is protecting us like we protect our flags, and at the same time, he’s bringing others into the Kingdom, like how we retrieve the flags.  

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There’s another rule to the game of capture the flag—if you see someone on your side of the gym from the other team attempting to steal your flag, you tag them, then they’re out! In the same way, if I run to the other side of the gym to steal the flag, I have to dodge the other kids and avoid getting tagged myself. It’s tricky when you’re playing defense and offense!  

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We see this same dynamic at play when God protects those who know him and fights for those who don’t. In Romans 16, verse 20, we read: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” This verse tells us how God protects us and crushes Satan under our feet. Notice how it doesn’t say that we, using God’s power, can crush Satan. It says God will crush Satan. God is the one doing the action and protecting us.  

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So, we know that God protects us and fights for us—now what should we do with that information? Well, the Bible also tells us to strive to be like God, right? Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Which means that in the same way God fights for those who oppose him and protects those who love him, we get to do the same. It’s not easy to like everybody, especially when they get on your nerves. It’s easy for me to find myself thinking, “Why should I be nice to them? They did (insert problem) to me!” And sometimes it’s funny to imagine God saying, “Yeah? Well, humanity murdered me, and you don’t see me pouting about it, do you?”  

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Before Jesus was crucified, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus three times, but when Jesus was resurrected, he didn’t come back with accusations. He showed love to Peter and the rest of his disciples. By Jesus’ example we should love those who “persecute” us. Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Sometimes we might turn away from God and his plans for us, but he keeps fighting to reel us back in. In the same way, we keep fighting for those who go against us to show them God’s love and grace.

Dear God, thank you for sending your son, the Snake-Crusher, to protect us from the lies that Satan tells us. As we go into this season of change and excitement, please help me to remain grounded in your truths. Thank you for showing me grace and love when I oppose you. In the same way, please help me to have grace and love when I’m dealing with people who frustrate me or in situations that I don’t want to be in. Please help me to step outside of my comfort zone and embrace your plan for me, no matter the struggles. Thank you for who you are, and please help me to be bold. Please use your power through me to expand your Kingdom and bring the restoration that Jesus died for. Amen.