Putting on the Armour of God
Ephesians 6:10-13
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
What Does it Mean?
I love how the Message version of the Bible translates Ephesians 6:10. “God is strong, and he wants you strong.” And that, in a nutshell, is what this whole study is about – being strong and standing firm when life seems to be doing everything to throw us off track. The comfort of Ephesians 6:10-17 is that God has given us all the weapons we need so that we can “stand up to everything the devil throws our way” (v.11).
Verse 12 reminds us that we’re in a battle against the forces of evil in the world – and it’s quite a sobering reminder because satan doesn’t want to give up his power over our lives, and he will use dirty tactics to try and cheat his way to victory. Remember that Jesus called satan a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10). We shouldn’t ever underestimate the devil. Still, at the same time, we have to remember that Jesus won the victory on the cross, and because of our faith in Him, we have been equipped with every piece of armour we need to deflect the devil’s attacks.
The message of Ephesians 6:13 is that we couldn’t hope to win the battle we’re in on our own, but, praise God, we’re not on our own, because once we’ve put on the armour of God, we have the power of God within us – and that power not only equips us to win the battle, but enables to still be standing firm when the battle is over!
Ponder-Points
Think of some of the ways the devil operates to try and gain advantage in your life. Write them down, and, as we look at the individual pieces of armour over the coming days, see how you might use the armour to deflect the attacks of the enemy.
Prayer
Father God, we thank you that although we are in a life-or-death fight against the forces of darkness that wish to overcome us, you have equipped us with all the best tools and every weapon that we need to fight this spiritual battle. Thank you that although the devil comes to rob, steal and destroy, Jesus came that we might have abundant life. Help us, Father God, to be ever aware of the battle that we face on a daily basis, but to know that because of our faith in you, we can have the victory and still be standing when the battle is won. Amen.