June 7 Armor Up

Ephesians 6:13-17 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 
EASILY we could look at this Scripture in five separate teachings, but I think there is great power in seeing this spiritual armor image in its entirety. Let’s put on the full armor of God!
    Be prepared for the day of evil. This day is not a special day but is any time when great temptation or threats to obeying God’s Word come into your life. And/or a day of evil can also be a day when your culture or your church confronts a faith challenge against God’s Word. For example, we have had a “day of evil” here in the United States since abortion was approved by our Supreme Court. Every day is an evil day for the unborn in America and around the world.
    “The day of evil” also has been in America’s churches since the 18th century. Over 200-plus years, the church has largely gone from the Gospel of God to the Gospel of Self. Moral truth has been replaced with moral relativity. The church refuses to call sin “sin” as it allows the culture to define its message. “The day of evil” also stains marriage in our nation. Too many y marriages end in divorce. Ungodly homosexual unions are approved against the Bible’s clear teaching.
    We also see “the day of evil” in too many communities as heroin has become the addictive drug of choice and destruction. And alcohol is affiliated with fun and fellowship. Evil daily rears its ugly head, too, in division and strife among those whom claim they are able to lead this country.
    What do we do? We do what God tells us to do. Firmly, we must buckle up with the Bible. Learn from the Truth what is true. Know what is true. Learn the lies. Grow in your knowledge of God’s wisdom. Then walk surely forward, shielded in a Spirit-powered faith, guarded from harm and ready to extinguish all fire from the devil. In the authority of our Lord’s salvation we must surely proclaim, “Jesus saves.” Then we live in submission to his authority over our lives. We imitate Jesus’ teachings to be salt and light into a decaying, dark world.
    There is no secret to solving the world’s problems. The Lord God has unveiled to mankind all we must know. Jesus said it this way: Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 
    Live in God’s sure truth, his abiding love. Your armor will be secure.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your armor. May I fully trust in your love to decisively win the victory against evil. I pray in Jesus’ love, amen.