| “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” |
| —Ephesians 6:10-11 |
Have you ever known a teenager who appeared to feel he was invincible? I use the male pronoun because in most cases this invincibility seems to largely reside with the males of our species. You know the kind of young person I’m talking about. No dare is too daunting. No challenge is too overwhelming. No situation is too fearful.
In fact, such teens, imbued with this sense of invincibility, often get themselves into some really tough scrapes. Sometimes, alcohol or drugs heightens that sense of invincibility and more than one death has resulted from some teen thinking that he could do something that was so fraught with danger that a clearer head of even a really brave person might have avoided it.
In the spiritual world there is a proper sense of invincibility that we can apprehend. But, it doesn’t come from our own sense of personal power or strength. In fact, such spiritual assurance really only appears if we recognize how powerless we are whenever we attempt to rely solely on our own personal resources.
The Apostle Paul concludes his six-chapter letter to the Christians gathered in the church at Ephesus by urging them to follow a very prescriptive solution when faced with spiritual warfare. Take note of Paul’s words, as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-11:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
By putting on the armor that Paul describes in the verses of Scripture that follow this passage, we can possess a supernatural strength and power that will make us invincible to the spiritual enemy of our souls. That should make us feel both comfortable and secure, as we begin another day. Here’s Ephesians 6:13-18:
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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
So, let’s heed Paul’s advice and equip ourselves for whatever spiritual battle may come our way. If we do, we will be able to go about whatever task God gives us this day knowing that we are protected by His unmovable grace.
Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2017
