Read Hebrews 2:5-12, Ps. 8:2,5-9, Mark 1:21-28
“What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.” (Hebrews 2:6-8)
It is not to the glory of God that we who pride ourselves as children of God become more afraid of demons and evil spirits than of God. Jesus did not show any sign of timidity at all whenever he was confronted with demon-possessed people rather he used the authority which he knew he had to command them and the demons obeyed.
As St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” We have the spirit of God inside of us making us brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. Why then should we be afraid of the devil or of his agents?
The letter to the Hebrews teaches us that God subjected everything in the world to us. “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels, you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.” (Hebrews 2:6-8).
Could it be that we do not know God has already put everything under our control? Or is it the case that we have the remote control but do not know which buttons to press? Why are we so afraid of the devil when it is he who should be afraid of us? One answer to this question is sin. Sin and authority do not mix very well.
If for instance, you are the boss in your office, you notice that your employees respect you based on your integrity as a person not simply because you are in charge of their paychecks. A boss who lacks integrity is to his staff what a Christian living in sin is to the devil. When you give commands, they simply laugh at you. You cannot be eating from the devil in secret and come out in public to denounce him. He will only disgrace you.
We all have authority as born-again Christians. 1 John 4:4 says: “Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Let us free ourselves from the traps of the devil so that we can truly exercise that authority that God has given to us.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, renew my spirit and deepen my resolve to reject sin. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of week 1 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 2:5-12, Ps. 8:2,5-9, Mark 1:21-28).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu