Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 NABRE
Paul writing to the community in Ephesus is reiterating God’s plan of salvation in Christ. He wants the community to build up the church and to build up each member. He uses the language “in Christ” often through the letter, indicating we are growing up into Christ, we have a special relationship with Christ, one of indwelling, that Christ is in us and we are in Christ. We are in communion with Christ. The quoted verse is beginning the closing of the letter, Paul is warning the community and us that our spiritual struggle is not with people, but with an evil entity known as the devil. We may be fooled into thinking our battles come from others, someone doesn’t like me, someone else works against me, but we are not battling with earthly powers, rather spiritual beings. Paul tells us to draw our strength from the Lord, in other words, rely on the strength of Christ uniting us with His mighty power, the power that raised Christ from the dead. In order to rely on this power we must put on, to clothe ourselves with Christlike attitudes and actions that Paul describes as the armor of God. With this armor we can stand firm. Christ has already defeated the devil. We must be on guard against the tactics of the devil, the tricks and schemes the devil uses, not to overwhelm us but to deceive us. The devil uses distractions and seductions. The devil knows where we are vulnerable and picks at our vulnerability.
We must remember not to battle with one another. But to keep the focus on temptations from the devil wanting to destroy us. Don’t let the devil’s tricks fool you into believing your spouse, or friends, or parents are your enemy.
Where are you vulnerable to spiritual attacks? What temptations can you avoid today?
We must remember not to battle with one another. But to keep the focus on temptations from the devil wanting to destroy us. Don’t let the devil’s tricks fool you into believing your spouse, or friends, or parents are your enemy. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #armor #inChrist #Paul#everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist#jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion#biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse#verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews#loveeachother #godisgreat #bocaraton#youversion #everythingalways