WHAT IT’S ALL FOR

READING: EPHESIANS 6:10-18

Verse 18: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

In Ephesians 6, verses 13 through 17 describe the whole armor of God. The armor is a gift from the Lord that is designed to make us able to withstand in the evil day. This armor of God has recently been the topic of several devotional readings in this series. There have been descriptions of the armor used by ancient soldiers in their warfare. Those soldiers were physically outfitted from head to foot in a manner that prepared them for action. The action for which they were prepared was to engage the enemy in combat. The elements of physical armor described, have served metaphorically to describe the spiritual protection we have as Christians, for our engagement in spiritual warfare. Therefore, as we are spiritually outfitted from head to foot, we also are prepared for action. The action we are equipped to take is described in verse 18. The armor makes us able to withstand in the evil day, so we can then use the tactic of prayer. With the armor of God fully in place, we complete our warfare by praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. As the result, our victory as spiritual warriors is assured. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the role of the armor of God in your spiritual life?

2. We do need the whole armor, but with which elements do you most and least identify?

WHAT A CHOICE

READING: ROMANS 8:31-39

Verse 34: “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and who furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

There are occasions when people feel miserable. It seems to them their situations are too great for them, and they are beyond help. This may, at times, result in a response that lends credibility to the saying: “misery loves company”. At those times people may act as though the best they can expect is for someone to join them in their misery. The truth is that there is much more! We must be grateful that the hope of scripture provides more than merely the multiplication of misery. The word of God is a source of comfort and encouragement to every Christian who accepts it. Romans 8:34 is an example of a verse that does exactly that. What a wonderful assurance to know that the Lord Jesus is interceding for us! No matter how strongly feelings may pressure us, we have a divine hope. It is a hope founded in the dominant problem ending presence and power of Almighty God. Instead of just seeking company for our misery, as children of the Lord we can choose the overcoming provision and victory of our Holy Heavenly Father. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is another verse of scripture that provides divine hope for you?

2. What happens to those who don’t accept the word of God for comfort and encouragement?

SHIELDED

READING: EPHESIANS 6:10-17

Verse 16: “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

According to Ephesians 6, the whole armor of God makes us able to withstand in the evil day. We are to stand taking the shield of faith. Roman soldiers used two types of shields. A smaller round shield, called a buckler, was used for individual hand to hand combat. The type of shield referred to in verse 16 was known as a scutum. It was a 4 x 2 foot shield that provided much better protection from enemy arrows. The scutum is the type of protection we have to defend us from the darts or arrows of our  enemy the devil. These arrows can be viewed as progressive as he presses his attacks. At first he attempts to pierce us with the arrow of questions about God’s truth. His next step is to use arrows of doubt that he wants to sink into our thoughts. Then, even more serious is his use of the arrow of unbelief to attempt to penetrate into hearts. Finally, he tries to mortally wound people spiritually with arrows of disbelief to separate them from God. However, the people of God are well defended. The scutum shield of faith is our full protection from them all! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How do you react to the affirmation that you are protected by the shield of faith?

2. What is the effect does our protection have on the devil?

WRONGLY COMMITTED

READING: GENESIS 19:1-11

Verse 11: “And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.”

Genesis 19 describes an incident involving Abraham’s nephew Lot, two angels and some men of Sodom. In this passage of scripture, these men of Sodom were determined to abuse the angels and demanded that Lot turn the angels over to them. As the result of their sinful insistence, the angels struck the men with blindness. A powerful point is made as verse 11 describes what happened next. Even after being struck with blindness, these men of Sodom persisted in trying to carry out their sinful intentions. That  is an abundantly clear demonstration of the degree to which commitment to deception, lust and sin can occur. It is difficult to imagine those men being so dedicated to their intention, that they were not deterred even by being made blind. Sadly, people today are every bit as sinful and committed to their sin as the men of Sodom were to theirs. Right now countless people are suffering horribly from the results of their lusts. They are simply not making the cause and effect connection between their sin and the consequences they are experiencing. With such a powerful human propensity to sin, it is no wonder that it has taken the sacrifice of the Son of God to save us. For that, we thank the Lord Jesus! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Having read about commitment to sin, are you called to any type of action?

2. What do you see around you, that corresponds to the men of Sodom being struck blind?

OFF THE HOOK

READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5

Verse 5: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the LORD comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

In our natural responses, we as people spend a great deal of time evaluating and judging the events, situations, circumstances, activities and outcomes in our lives. Very often the goal of our judgments is to decide whether something is good or if it is bad. Once made, that decision about goodness or badness frequently creates stress for us. If we decide that something is good, then we have to do what it takes to keep it good. If we decide something is bad, then we have an even greater problem because of the pressure to make it good. The blessing is that there is a far less stressful approach that we can take as Christians. Because Almighty God is our faithful Father, we can step back and permit Him to judge on these issues of good and bad. Today’s verse instructs us to do that, and to allow the Lord to reveal what is needed. As we live trusting the promises of God, we know He will always provide those events, situations, circumstances, activities and outcomes that are good for us, using the standard of HIS judgment. Psalm 119:68 defines His standard by stating that He is good and does good. There is great freedom for us when, rather than reacting to what enters our lives, we cast our cares on Him instead. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What have you judged as bad until you came to understood it better?

2. How does the Lord’s standard of judgment differ from human standards.

TRUTH IS BETTER THAN TRIPPING

READING: EPHESIANS 6:10-17

Verse 14: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth...”

According to Ephesians 6, the whole armor of God makes us able to withstand in the evil day. We are to stand having girded our waists with truth. At the time those words were written, girding was a  routine practice. It consisted of taking the bottom of a long garment, such as were worn in those times, and tucking it into a waistband or belt to prevent tripping. Girding permitted a person to stride in their walking or to run because their legs and feet were free from being entangled. Today, Satan is the creator of spiritual entanglements. He tries to entangle us in deceits, lies and deceptions. His intent is to trip us or even to cause us to fall using these entanglements. When we gird our selves with the truth of God, we prevent these spiritual entanglements from occurring. We are able to stride boldly, and even to run or sprint, as we follow our Lord. When we gird ourselves with truth, we move in the truth that makes us free. That’s a thought – about God’s word.

RESPONSE

1. What is a scriptural truth that frequently “girds” you?

2. Will you pray for someone today, who needs truth as a source of freedom to advance?

RIGHT IS WHAT?

READING: John 1:6-13

Verse 12: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

It seems to be basic to human nature that we protect and defend our rights. Added to that natural inclination is the American emphasis on freedom and rights. Taken together, we frequently see these  two factors produce intense reactions when there is the belief that rights are threatened. In 1 Corinthians 6:7, Paul criticized the Corinthians for using civil courts instead of resolving disputes within the church. He said they should prefer to accept mistreatment and even consent to being cheated rather than to seek secular judgments. What a blow to their rights! In this scripture, the Bible demonstrates that there are standards of behavior which are more important than our personal rights. We can reach these higher standards because of a God-given right which frees us from defending our  personal rights. It also gives us victory in each and every situation and circumstance. This powerful God-given right is just as expressed above in John 1:12. This gift from the Lord, the right to be His children, is the right by which all our needs are met. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Are there considerations you hold higher than your personal rights? If so, what are they?

2. Are our churches becoming closer or more distant as sources of resolution for disputes?