“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:11
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Wrestling is a challenging sport requiring competitors to do a lot of stretching exercises, weightlifting and agility drills to prepare. Before participants get on the mat for matches, they work on techniques, get familiar with the rules and hone their craft because their opponents are also spending many hours training for events. In normal wrestling matches, the two participants look one another in the eye as the competition begins.
But our spiritual opponent is unseen. We are in the middle of an invisible, spiritual battle in our hearts and minds as we choose daily between right and wrong, good and evil.
As the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to the Church at Ephesus, he used the armor of a Roman soldier as a word picture to urge all generations to prepare to defeat the devil and to march forward for God. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:11-12).
Soldiers need armor to help prepare them for battle, just as Christians need daily prayer, Bible reading and fellowship with other believers to prepare them for battle.
Though Joshua learned a lot from Moses and proved himself as a courageous young man, he avoided overconfidence and kept on reinforcing his basic beliefs as he stepped out in faith to lead the Israelites into the promised land. The Lord challenged Joshua to be brave and to continue to read the Word of God. He didn’t get there through his own strength or smarts. Joshua’s job was too big for him unless he kept drawing upon God’s strength day by day, even throughout middle age and into his elder years.
Joshua needed God’s power and wisdom not only to live as an example for others, but also to overcome the many challenges and enemies he faced as a leader. The Lord spoke directly to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6-7).
Armor up for whatever battles you may be currently facing — or will face in the future — by going straight to the Source daily. Thank You, Lord, that You don’t expect us to fight such battles from our own strength and resources!
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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