"Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Ephesians 6:11 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: The apostle Paul is sitting in a Roman jail cell as he is writing his letter to the church at Ephesus (modern day Turkey). He is writing to discuss the unique, spiritual nature of the church and the responsibilities of believers for the Christian walk. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying from Spider-Man, "with great power comes great responsibility." Well, Luke 12:48b says this, "to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." So, what is Paul saying here? I think it is both encouragement and words of caution. He seems to be talking in military terms. "Put on the armor, to be able to stand against the schemes/maneuvers of the enemy." When we live in a manner that is opposed to the rest of the world, we have a tendency to stand out to others which can put a target on our backs. Paul is encouraging the church (us included) to be alert, always be prepared in our spirit for any opposition from the enemy. So, what is our action, our defense? Keep in mind that Jesus didn’t fight back when the Roman soldiers came to arrest him. In fact, when Peter cut the ear off of one of the soldiers, Jesus healed the soldier. Our defense? The same love, compassion, grace, and hope that God extends to us. Love does conquer all things, right? Love never fails.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would be ambassadors of God’s love, Champions of Compassion. That we would daily put on the armor of God, His word, and our relationship with Him, so that we can speak truth, God’s truth to all. I pray that we would be on the lookout for opportunities to share that truth with others so they can come to know this God of love.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Thinker 