Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Twenty years ago today, America absorbed a tragic attack that shocked the world and shook us to our core.  The destruction caused by the terrorists on those four aircraft was vast and deadly, and 9/11 went down in the history books as a catastrophe of the type and magnitude that was unheard of on our shores.  After all, large-scale terrorism was typically someone else’s problem, occurring in far distant lands while impacting others who we will never know.  On that day, we were starkly reminded that our homeland is vulnerable.  The impacts of terrorism could be immediate, proximate and personal.  They certainly were on that tragic day, where we were devoured by a determined and ruthless adversary intent on doing evil to our nation.

As Christians, we sometimes read about the sins of others that are vast and deadly, and that cause personal catastrophes of the type and magnitude that are unheard of in our immediate circles.  After all, large-scale sin is typically someone else’s problem, occurring in far distant homes while impacting others who we will never know.  Yet, we must always be aware that our own home is vulnerable.  But by the grace of God, the impacts of any sin can be immediate, proximate, and personal.  We must be ever-sensitive to the constant possibility of being devoured by a determined and ruthless adversary intent on doing evil in our lives.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NATION ON THIS ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 TRAGEDY.  May we humbly and prayerfully mourn, reflect, and remember.