Today’s reading is Ephesians 5:1-6:24.

Ephesians 6:12 scares me: “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” (ESV). That right there says the enemy is too much for me. How can finite, little me ever stand up to such powerful forces? Clearly, if my enemy were my next door neighbor, I could pump up at the gym a little bit and probably take him/her out. But my enemy is the devil and his spiritual forces. I’m sunk.

However, I don’t have to beat Satan. God already has. I don’t have to strengthen me and try to take on Satan. All I have to do is be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Did you catch that? Not in the strength of my might because I’m so spiritual. No, in the strength of His might. 

I can’t help but think of the psalmists. I encourage you to read the psalms with the thought in mind of  how they addressed God. Psalm 18:1-3 is a great example.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

I don’t have to be strong in my might, I need to be strong in God’s might. I need to let God be my fortress, my rock, my stronghold. I simply need to rely on Him. How do I do that?

The text says, put on God’s armor. In other words, if I’m going to be strong in the might of the Lord, I need to put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. I need to prepare my feet by taking up the gospel of peace. I need faith as a shield to extinguish the darts of the devil. I need to don the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. When I’m wearing this armor, I’m relying on God and His strength.

One question I automatically ask is where to get this equipment. Where is God’s armory? 

I know when we think of this list, we equate the Word with the sword of the Spirit. However, I cant’ help but notice the Word is integrally tied to each of these.

John 17:17 says, “Your word is truth.

II Timothy 3:16 says training in righteousness comes from God’s scripture.

Colossians 1:5 says the gospel is found in the word of truth.

Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.

II Timothy 3:14-15 says scripture makes us wise unto salvation.

How do I put on God’s armor? Get into God’s word. That’s why what we are doing here is so important. Staying in the word is not the daily Christian homework assignment. It is the only way we’ll ever overcome the tempter. We can’t win this battle apart from God’s word. The issue is not can I read my Bible enough to be a good enough to go to heaven. The issue is life, strength, and armor are found in the Word, without which I can’t survive the battle.

Think of it this way. Can you imagine a soldier saying, “Do I really have to put on my body armor for today’s battle?” Of course not. Are they putting the armor on because it is their assignment in the military? Of course not. They do it because they know it will be the thing that preserves their life.

So, as always…

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out today’s reading?