Spoiled

What does it truly mean to be spoiled? Not in the way we typically think of a pampered child, but in the ancient sense of warfare, where the victorious army stripped the defeated enemy of everything of value and marched home richer than when they left. This is the picture Paul paints in Colossians 2 when he declares that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them. The cross was not a defeat. It was heaven's greatest triumph. Jesus marched into enemy territory, defeated sin, death, and hell, and walked away with the keys of victory in hand. But here is where the message takes an unexpected and deeply personal turn. The greatest danger we face is not always before the battle. Sometimes it comes after the victory. When God wins on our behalf, there is a subtle and dangerous temptation that quietly takes root in our hearts: the belief that somehow we deserve the credit. Through the story of Israel's conquest of Jericho and the hidden sin of a man named Achan, we are confronted with one of the most sobering truths in all of Scripture. We can never take ownership of what only God can accomplish. Every open door, every answered prayer, every restored relationship, every moment of provision traces back not to our effort or talent, but to the hand of a faithful God who fights for his people.