|
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints ..." (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV)
Notice how much Paul talks about standing in this passage. He says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil," and "Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand, therefore ..."
Isn't that odd? Nowhere does he say, "practice your sword moves" or "think about the best way to make an attack." Almost every piece of equipment he mentions is defensive, not offensive. The only thing that looks like it could be used to attack is the sword of the Spirit—and swords are used just as much to defend as they are to attack!
What does all this tell me? That the main thing God's asking us to do in the war against evil is to stay alert and keep safe. God will handle the strategy, God will do the attacking; our job is to make sure we don't get wounded or killed. And to make that possible, He's provided us with the best possible armor—all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I confess I'm pretty happy with this. I'm good letting Him handle the tough stuff. I'll hide behind the Lord and keep out of trouble!
God is serious about protecting us—so much that He already laid down His own life on the cross in order to save ours. When Jesus died and rose again, He did it so that we could live forever—everyone of us who trusts in Him; and why? Because He loves us. Jesus knows us well, and He knows what we can handle. He knows that simply standing when we're under attack is going to be a challenge for us. And so He protects us with His own armor, the armor of God. Let's put it on and keep it on!
We Pray: Lord, I know that You fight for me against evil; help me to trust You and stay in Your protection. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on August 28, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. How well do you think God knows you and what you're able to do and not do?
2. What could happen to a Christian who didn't follow orders and tried to lead the battle against evil on his own?
3. Does standing include helping a fellow Christian who has come under attack?
|
