Ephesians 6:13-15
"Therefore, take up the whole armor of ______, that you may be able to ___________ in the evil day, and having done all, to _________. ____________ therefore, having girded your waist with ________, having put on the breastplate of ___________________, and having shod your feet with the _____________ of the gospel of _________;"
above all, taking the shield of faith
with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one.
Here's what we now know: the wicked one has fiery darts coming for us. What a joyful article, right?
During Paul's time, fiery darts were a strategic way for an enemy to attack a village. The darts would cause a fire which would possibly spread. The people being attacked would lose their homes and possessions -- the things that assured them they were safe. With everything burning around them, they were vulnerable to being killed or imprisoned.
Think of how the shield works well with your peacefully "shodded" feet. As we prepare to share the gospel of peace, perhaps we feel unqualified or not good enough. Perhaps we don't serve, give, share, or fellowship because we think we don't fit in. Feeling unworthy is a fiery dart.
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| image by Graehawk from Pixabay |
Think of how the shield works well with your breastplate of righteousness. As we go forward clothed in righteousness, perhaps we feel our sins disqualify us for God's forgiveness. Perhaps we distance ourselves from God, or maybe we ostracize ourselves from other Christians. Condemning ourselves undeserving of forgiveness is a fiery dart.
Think of how the shield of faith works well with your belt of truth. As we hold everything around us on the truth that we are saved from our sin and will spend eternity with God, perhaps we doubt that we can be saved. Perhaps we give less regard to serving God and serving others, grieving the Holy Spirit. A lack of servitude is a fiery dart.
Our faith in God's love and in the power of salvation is as strong as a shield. Through our Helper, the Holy Spirit, we're not destined for doom when our world crashes around us. Our faith in the Alpha and Omega, the Creator, Wonderful Counselor, the Savior -- Hallelujah! We serve a risen Savior, and we cannot be shaken by Satan's fiery darts. Hold up your shield of faith and protect yourself from lies.
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| image by Shad0wfall from Pixabay |
Sustain our faith. In times of struggle, may we guard ourselves against the schemes of the enemy. Help us to grip our faith as a shield as we journey through some dark valleys. Amen.