We who are Christians—disciples of Jesus who follow God’s word—are in the middle of a spiritual war. We are instruments of spiritual warfare for God. Whether we recognize it or not, the battle is real, and it is fought not with the weapons of this world but with truth, love, and holiness.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12
Recently I was reading 1 Chronicles chapter 19, and it gave me a great deal to reflect on regarding how we are called to conduct ourselves in this war.
A Lesson from 1 Chronicles 19
When Nahash, king of the Ammonites, died, David wanted to show kindness to his son Hanun. David remembered the kindness Nahash had once shown him, so he sent envoys to comfort Hanun in his grief over his father.
“And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me.” — 1 Chronicles 19:2
But Hanun did not believe David’s gesture was sincere. He suspected the envoys had come to spy on him. So instead of receiving the kindness offered to him, Hanun chose to humiliate David’s men—shaving off their beards and cutting their garments so that they were left nearly naked. Hearing of their shame, David told the men to remain in Jericho until their beards had grown back.
The Ammonites soon realized they had made themselves hateful to David. Rather than seeking peace, they did the opposite: they hired the Arameans and prepared for war. Yet in the end, the Israelites overcame both the Ammonites and the Arameans they had hired.
What This Story Teaches Us
Here is what stirs in my heart when I read this. As Christians who follow Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves—and even to love our enemies. We are to pray for them, be good to them, and meet their needs, giving them food and water.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” — Matthew 5:44
And yet, like David’s envoys, we may extend genuine kindness only to be trampled on in return. When that happens, we can rest in this truth: their injustice will meet its reckoning, or, by God’s grace, they may one day be turned and saved. Either way, the outcome rests in God’s hands, not ours.
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
In this life we must also be wise, because we will face many kinds of challenges—including evil spiritual attacks that come through other people. So how should we respond, and how should we handle it? Three principles guide me.
Three Principles for Spiritual Warfare
1. Be Wise as Serpents and Innocent as Doves
This is the first thing Jesus told his disciples when he sent them out into the world.
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” — Matthew 10:16
When we go out to share the gospel and proclaim God’s word, we must act with love and remain blameless in our conduct. Anyone who examines what we have done should find only good. Evil will try to make us stumble—to provoke us into sin or into striking back—so that it has grounds to accuse us. But when we are shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves, we conduct ourselves in a way that is holy, good, and beyond reproach.
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” — Philippians 2:15
And if we are mistreated even while doing good, God will still bring something good out of it. To strike at a faithful servant who has done nothing but good is a terrible move by the enemy—one that God can turn to His glory.
2. Overcome Evil with Good—and Set Healthy Boundaries
Walking as a disciple of Jesus, and waging this spiritual war His way, does not mean returning evil for evil. It means returning good for evil.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21
This does not mean we must tolerate everything. It means we forgive. We pray for those who wrong us. We are good to them. We do the opposite of what Satan wants us to do. But it also does not mean that we owe our endless attention to someone who only wants to sabotage and destroy. We are allowed to set boundaries. We can say:
“I want good for you. I want you to come to heaven. I want you to be saved. But right now we are getting nowhere, so I will end this conversation here—and I will pray for you.”
Then we forgive, and we move on, brushing the dust from our feet.
“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” — Matthew 10:14
When you practice this principle, you will not sin, and you will not give the enemy a spiritual hold on you. You will walk in peace and in love.
3. Find Joy in Being Dishonored for Jesus’ Name
Scripture tells us that the apostles actually rejoiced when they were dishonored for the name of Jesus.
“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” — Acts 5:41
The injustice you may suffer while walking righteously for the glory of God’s name can become a source of blessing and joy beyond anything you can imagine—until you experience it for yourself.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you… Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” — Matthew 5:11-12
Walk in Peace
So trust God. Follow His law. Keep the commandments of Jesus. Be wise as serpents, innocent as doves, and blameless in all your conduct. The war is real, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does it mean to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves”? It means combining discernment with purity. We stay alert to the schemes of those who wish us harm (serpent-like wisdom) while keeping our own conduct clean, gentle, and free of malice (dove-like innocence), so that no one can rightly accuse us of wrongdoing.
- Does loving my enemies mean I have to tolerate abuse? No. Loving your enemies means forgiving them, praying for them, and wishing for their salvation. It does not mean surrendering your boundaries. You can lovingly end a harmful conversation, step away from sabotage, and still hold no bitterness in your heart.
- What does it mean to “shake the dust off your feet”? It is the practice Jesus taught of releasing a situation when someone refuses your message or your goodwill. You leave the outcome with God, hold no resentment, and continue forward in peace rather than staying locked in conflict.
- How can being mistreated ever be a source of joy? When you suffer unjustly for living righteously and honoring God’s name, you share in something the apostles experienced—a deep, surprising joy in being counted worthy to bear shame for Christ. It is a blessing that is hard to grasp until you walk through it yourself.
- What is the main lesson of the David and Hanun story in 1 Chronicles 19? David offered genuine kindness and was repaid with public humiliation. The account reminds us that good intentions are sometimes met with hostility—yet injustice does not have the final word. God ultimately defends what is right, even when others respond to our kindness with contempt.
