Devotional Introduction & Day 1
Popular sizes in the armor of God are in college-size small to college-size large. Of course, as the Living Word, the armor applies to all believers, but its vital worth to high school and college kids, to me, is uncanny.
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I say "kids," but our college-age population are not really kids anymore. They're just beginning adulthood. Sure, they're expected to be adults, but most of their experience is in childhood. Now, they have new responsibilities. New homes, new schools, new goals, new views of money, new knowledge, new fears, and new temptations. For high school students, they walk on this edge of taking more responsibility as they evolve to see the importance of their daily decisions. They see how their own character impacts everything within them and around them.
If life as a Christian was easy and full of roses, we wouldn't need the armor. But it's not easy, and some of the biggest struggles of life begin in the teen and college years.
This 10-day devotional is similar to a training seminar, a preparation for battle. It guides college kids and high schoolers to actively and intentionally wear the God's armor, and to know their goal must be to live out God's will.
Ephesians 6:10-20 explains all the bells and whistles that come with wearing the armor of God. Verse 10 begins with the direct address, "my brethren." Paul is recognizing and making clear that this powerful blessing of God's armor is available to those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus and have made Him the Lord of their lives.
Day 1
Ephesians 6:10 says, "Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (NKJV).
The preposition "in" is powerful. (No worries - no English lesson here.) It means to be within, or where a security is found. It gives an indication of place. Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17, and He used the preposition "in" 14 times. John 17: 23 says, "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
Our security in having strength and where we may dwell with strength is in Jesus. For example, on the first day of school, children find strength in holding their hands in their parent's hand. This is where they find their strength, and this is where God wants us to find ours -- in Him.
We also dwell in his power, which comes from His might.
". . . the power of His might."
The preposition "of" typically gives an indication of who owns something or where something comes from. Here, who does the power belong to or where does the power come from? From God's might, God's strength, God's power.
Now, we have our starting point: we are to dwell in and find our security in going forward with God, while also understanding that its His might we dwell in. Then, we can be strong; we hold His hand knowing He's really the strong one. It's His might, not our own.
How can we apply this? My suggestion is to keep going forward with courage, with no excuses why we can't. One way to go forward is to commit to spending time in God's Word daily. Lean on God's might to help you find time.
Tomorrow, Day 2 will focus on God's introduction to the armor of God and how Satan comes into the picture.
Until then, be strong.