“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV)
When we got a dog, we decided to get a real fence rather than an electric fence. We didn’t want our dog to wander off; neither did we want other dogs to come into our yard and bother her. This high fence has kept her secure from external temptations, but she still gets in plenty of trouble inside the fence. She digs holes, chews on things she shouldn’t, and chases any rabbit that enters through the small gaps.
The prophet Isaiah described God as a barbed wire fence preventing trespass. God can provide a hedge of protection from external evil. He can also hold us back from wandering off into danger. Yet, what about the evil within us--the false beliefs and crooked impulses? We must rely on God to keep us safe from these too. When we are made aware of our foibles, we have to be willing to change. When we submit to God’s instructions and yield to His discipline, we are protected from wickedness.
Lord, strengthen and protect us against internal and external evil.
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