Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. | ||
| Ephesians 6:23-24 | ||
| The way to be strong is to wear the armor. I know some who almost physically put on the armor of God every morning. ‘I’m going to be conscious of truth in my inner life today,’ they say. ‘And I’m going to make sure my heart is right. I’m going to tell everyone I meet today something of the Good News of the Gospel. And should I be barraged with fiery darts, I’ll run to the protection of the congregation. I’ll be consciously looking for the Lord’s return today. And I’ll carry my Bible with me in order that I might meditate upon it to have an exacting word for someone in need.’ While all of that is wonderful for some, I have found that the majority of us are more like my son Benjamin ... Benjamin, my first-grader, is in such a hurry to get out the door and off to school in the morning, he thinks he can’t be bothered with getting dressed. His solution — until we told him otherwise — was to go to bed wearing the clothes he would wear the next day. Maybe, like me, you find it overwhelming to go through the practice of putting on your armor a piece at a time. I suggest, like Benjamin, you make it a whole lot simpler: Just put on Jesus ... He is the Truth (John 14:6). He is our Breastplate of righteousness (Romans 13:14). He guides our feet in peace (Luke 1:79). He is our Shield of faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). It’s all wrapped up in Him — which is why when we love Him in sincerity, we experience His peace in our hearts and His grace in our lives. | ||
