Power is developed through resistance. Or so I’ve been told.

During the recent physical therapy rehab for my fractured hip, several exercises required resistance. Either through machines, added weights, or my own weight against gravity. The more times I practiced and performed the various exercises, the stronger my leg muscles became. The more I pushed myself, the greater the result.

Yeah. It hurt at times and would have been easier to skip the effort, but I was willing to endure the hard work of resistance to achieve my primary goal. Return to pre-fall activities without needing a walker or cane.

My twice-weekly trips to therapy ended, but the resistance training continues. It has to if I expect to maintain the growth I’ve gained.

Are there any parallels to be drawn between physical therapy resistance training and the resistance training Christ-followers must take part in? I believe so.

We are told to be self-controlled and vigilant for our enemy, the devil, prowls about like a lion looking for someone to devour. We are told to resist him. Because when we do, he will flee. That’s resistance training. It isn’t a one and done deal. It is a continual training. We can’t think saying no to Satan once will be enough to keep him away forever. If only that were true. But it isn’t. The devil is relentless in his attacks against God’s people.

Our power to stand firm in our faith and say no to Satan is developed through resistance to his lies, and holding on to God’s truth. The more we resist the deceiver, the stronger we become to stand firm. It isn’t easy. It takes determination. We might think we can give in this time, skip this resistance training, and make it up next time, but it’ll be hard to recover what we lost.

Are we willing to endure the hard work of resistance training to achieve our primary goal? A pre-fall state in heaven with Jesus?

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Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and remember that the strain is the same for all your fellow-Christians in other parts of the world. And after you have borne these sufferings a very little while, God himself (from whom we receive all grace and who has called you to share his eternal splendour through Christ) will make you whole and secure and strong. All power is his for ever and ever, amen! 1 Peter 5:6-11 (Phillips)