Continuing in our daily effort to live into Ephesians 6:10-20, having fastened the belt of truth around our waist, today we put on the breastplate of righteousness. There are two levels to consider here: Christ’s righteousness imputed to us and the righteousness we demonstrate as people who are sanctified by one degree of glory to […]
The first piece of the whole armor of God we are instructed to put on is a belt – that seems counter-intuitive for those of us who might fasten a belt as the last piece of clothing, not the first. So, bring to mind the most foundational of garments here and imagine how a man […]
Ephesians 6:14-17 read “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 […]
As we find ourselves in the midst of a great spiritual battle, what can we do? Paul says, “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.” Did you get that? Put on the whole armor of God […]
My good friend Brooke called hysterical. It was the middle of the night and her four year daughter was wet with sweat, screaming about a monster at her window. Emiline’s room was on the third floor, facing the river. Could it have been the Spanish moss in the trees? Brooke insisted I come over because […]
Continuing in our conversation about Ephesians 6:10-20, we ask “why we need all this armor.” Paul tells us that we need the whole armor of God “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” That’s actually the entire point of the exercise of conscientiously and intentionally armoring up every day […]
When I read Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 6 that we are to“Put on the full armor of God” I am reminded of the story in the Old Testament when David is offered the armor of King Saul that he might wear it into battle against Goliath. But the king’s armor is ill-fitted to the shepherd […]
Yesterday we were called to be strong in the strength of the Lord and today we are called to be strong in the strength of the Lord’s power. Why repeat this idea? I suspect the apostle Paul knows our tendency to self-reliance and our propensity to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Paul […]
Stand… Ephesians 6:10-20 says we are to stand in the strength of the Lord but how do you stand in someone else’s strength? Let’s remember the confrontation here is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Whose strength is sufficient to that? Well, Jesus. One time he proved himself sufficient was when […]
Finally? Taking God at His Word we find Ephesians 6:10-20 begins with the word Finally. The first word is “finally!” which means we need to know all that comes before to understand what comes next. Paul speaks these concluding words in Ephesians chapter 6 to those rooted and grounded in love in chapter 1, strengthened […]