New administration under Samia Suluhu gives hope after 5 years of hopelessness

New administration under Samia Suluhu gives hope after 5 years of hopelessness

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You Can Resist Evil

With the rise of global terrorism, world leaders have spoken a great deal about vanquishing evil. But, as one writer in the Guardianpointed out, ‘Their rhetoric reveals a failure to accept that cruelty and conflict are basic human traits.’ As Albert Einstein said, ‘I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power of evil in the human heart.
Why is there so much evil in the world? Why is there such a battle with evil in our own lives? How can you resist the devil? What will happen to the devil at the end of time?
 
Proverbs 28:7–17

Confess and renounce evil

Here is the answer to evil in our own lives: ‘Those who conceal their sins do not prosper, but those who confess and renounce them find mercy’ (v.13).
The writer of Proverbs speaks of different types of evil: murder (v.17), leading the upright along an evil path (v.10), turning a deaf ear to the law (v.9), charging exorbitant interest (v.8) and hard-heartedness (v.14).
He also speaks about evil rulers: ‘When good people are promoted, everything is great, but when the bad are in charge, watch out!’ (v.12, MSG). ‘Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds’ (v.16a, MSG). We’ve seen this in recent years in, for example, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Zimbabwe, North Korea, Sudan and so on. Good leadership is so important.
He says that an evil leader is ‘like a roaring lion or a charging bear’ ruling over a helpless people (v.15). The apostle Peter describes the devil as ‘a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).
When you confess your sins, God offers mercy. ‘You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them’ (Proverbs 28:13, MSG). Or as St John puts it, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).

Lord, thank you for this wonderful promise that when I confess my sins and renounce them, I find mercy.
 
James 4:1–17

Resist the devil

Why is there so much division in the world? James gives us an uncomfortable answer: ‘Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves’ (v.1, MSG). The Bible acknowledges the human sources of evil, but also points to a deeper source.
All human beings have evil tendencies. This chapter is focused on the key battle ground in the fight against evil – ourselves. Evil must be resisted. How can you win this battle?
The first problem that James identifies is that when we want something, we go out there and fight for it, rather than asking God: ‘You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it’ (v.2, MSG).
The lure of the pleasures of this world is so strong. But God wants us to be faithful to him. When we pursue the pleasures of this world we become adulterous in our relationship with God: ‘When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures’ (v.3).
He goes on to say, ‘You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way’ (v.4, MSG). This upsets the Holy Spirit: ‘Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?’ (v.5). We grieve the Holy Spirit when we go after other gods.
It is also possible to sin by not doing something. Sin is not just doing what we know is wrong, it is also failing to do what we know is right: ‘In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil’ (v.17, MSG).
You cannot overcome evil on your own. Yet, here is the remarkable thing: ‘he gives us more grace’ (v.6a). God does not condemn you. ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (v.6b). He gives you more grace to overcome evil.
Submit yourself humbly to God: ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you’ (vv.7–8a). These are wonderful promises worth learning by heart. ‘Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time’ (v.7–8a, MSG).
How do you do this? He goes on to explain, ‘Quit dabbling in sin’ (v.8, MSG). It is no good thinking you can live a holy life and hang on to just a little bit of sin in your life. ‘Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field... Get down on your knees before the Master.’ God does not leave us there. Getting down on our knees is the way to get back on our feet! (vv.8b–10, MSG).
As we recognise our own shortcomings, we realise we are in no position to judge anyone else. The best way to forget the faults of others is to remember our own. As we ourselves are law-breakers, who are we to sit around judging other people (v.11)? There is only one who is qualified to be the judge: ‘the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbour?’ (v.12).
Another evil is self-importance, to be ‘full of your grandiose selves’ (v.16, MSG). We ‘brashly announce, “Today – at the latest, tomorrow – we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money”’ (v.13, MSG).
It is good to plan ahead but, at the end of the day, ‘You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow’ (v.14, MSG). You are totally dependent on God. ‘Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”’ (v.15, MSG). The expression ‘God-willing’ should not be a formality. Rather, it should express the reality of a heart that recognises that God is ultimately in control, and you are not. The prayer of your heart should be, ‘your will be done’.

Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
 
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