Fall 2024

Daily Devotional - Thursday August 31, 2017

“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.” – (Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV)

The Proper Equipment

Any athlete knows how essential it is to have the right equipment before going out on the field. Helmets are especially important in football and baseball. But it can be just as vital to have a uniform that does not restrict movement, a ball with the right amount of air, or comfortable footwear. Sometimes the piece of equipment is designed for safety, and other times is it built to boost performance.

In whatever sport, the proper equipment can make the difference between being “hurt” and being “injured.” It can also dictate whether you pop-out or hit a home run, throw a touchdown or an interception, or create a highlight dunk or a an embarrassing blooper reel. The materials and tools that you wear and utilize can determine both your success and your security.

In our walk with Christ, we must also be aware of the “equipment” that God provides for us. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and guiding us. The Holy Bible is God’s eternal truth and the fulfillment of His promises through His son Jesus written down for us to absorb.

Our Christian brothers and sisters are there to give us encouragement, advice, and to help us hone our direction. The fruit of the Spirit is not just something we produce (although we should be), but something we are able to experience from the faith of others that gives us life.

We have our faith, our salvation, and our testimony. God promises that He will give us whatever we need to accomplish His plan for us. We have the exact set of talents and the perfect equipment needed to carry out His will for our lives. All we have to do is work hard to seek Christ in how we put it to use.

Jamie Boggs