Thursday, April 18 | Ephesians 6:10-20 | Stephen Fryrear
I had one of these, the whole suit! The kit came complete with the flimsy plastic helmet, a sword, and breastplate of righteousness that barely fit around my husky childhood frame. It never did feel very “protective.” I would have felt better with a “BB gun of atonement” and a “baseball bat of justification.” Oh, but now I have come understand the power of the “sword of the Spirit” and have realized that it is more useful against my real enemy than any BB gun ever could be.
In the passage we read today Paul encourages us to put on “the whole armor of God.” The reading today comes right after the passage instructing slaves to obey their masters as in service to Christ. Before that, Paul has been encouraging the church to be imitators of God is so many different ways. Impossible! This is too hard. We can’t do this on our own, precisely. “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” We can’t do it, but God can.
Cover yourself with God! As the hymn says, “When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see him there, who made an end to all my sin.” (From “Before the Throne of God Above”). The breastplate of His righteousness will protect your trembling heart! When the flaming arrows of doubt have been launched against you, hold tight to the shield of faith.
Remember, our enemy is not flesh and bones, but the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms! Fight spirit with Spirit, the Word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit! Pray in the Spirit, with all kinds of prayers and requests. God is with you and fighting for you!
Let us pray like Paul, asking for the ability to fearlessly proclaim the gospel as we should, because we know that Satan is already annihilated. He was killed at the cross! Praise God!
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