“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV)
Our world today is full of protective devices. Some are part of our everyday life whether we choose them or not. Airbags in cars, highway guard rails, and stop signs are universal safety equipment intended for the common good. Other protections, such as COVID-19 vaccines, masks, lifejackets, and smoke alarms, are often offered and strongly recommended, but are not always mandated. We live in a world of choices and must take personal responsibility for our own choices. The same is true in our Christian life.
We face many dangers in our walk of faith, but Ephesians 6 tells us of a means of full protection that is freely offered to us. It is up to us to avail ourselves of this protection. This full suit of armour — the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the footwear of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) — is specially designed to protect us against all of Satan’s tricks.
Paul described armour that was commonly used by soldiers of the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. My mental image — triggered by memories of flannelgraph stories in Sunday school — is of a Roman helmet, shield, and breastplate. Here are some points about this spiritual armour that I have noted:
- We are told to put on this armour. It is not forced upon us but seems to be a matter of our (wise and strongly encouraged) choice.
- This armour is given as protection in a struggle against spiritual forces of evil, not earthly foes.
- We aren’t to initiate the battle, but we are to stand firm as Satan attacks us head on.
- With one exception, all of these pieces of armour are for defense, not offense. Our one offensive weapon is God’s Word. We can freely use His words — not our own — to defend our faith and our position.
These thoughts remind me that our battle is in God’s hands and that He has offered us all the protection that we need in this spiritual battle. In times of discouragement, we can be encouraged by God’s promises. When we have a difficult choice to make, we can find guidance from God’s Word. When we are faced with temptation, we can call on Him for help.
To think about: How can we put on God’s armour in our spiritual battle today?
Prayer: O Lord, You know the trials and struggles that we face every day. May we show evidence of our faith in You by not trying to run from trouble, but by choosing to use the spiritual armour that You have given us to equip us for this daily struggle. Amen.
Copyright © 2022, by Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Used with the permission of PresbyCan and author.