“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12 (NASB)
Our conflict is not against flesh and blood. Did you ever wonder how Christians can remain calm when under attack and even persecution? They certainly can’t if they get caught in the conflict trap with their attackers. What if we took seriously this phrase, “not against flesh and blood” (i.e. not against people)? How would it change things for us? How would praying for and loving our detractors change things? We are not here to fight people but to win people. The dueling mode may be a strong temptation, but in the end it is never productive.
