Ephesians 6:10-24. Paul concludes this letter with a prayer for grace to all who read it, that they might love the Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. The warfare that they face will challenge that love. His concluding words to the Ephesians reveal that the (usually) invisible forces of evil will continue to wrestle against them. They have strength for that warfare, given by grace from the Lord himself: it is his strength and his might. They must take up his armor, for he intends to fight the battle. This imagery is taken from Isaiah 59:17: “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isaiah saw God putting on his own armor to rescue his people. In the same way, Paul says that God himself will rescue his people by grace if they trust in him to do it. He pictures that trust as putting on the armor.
- Trust in his truth (fasten on the belt)
- Trust in his righteousness (put on the breastplate)
- Trust in his gospel of peace (put on the shoes)
- Trust in his protection (take up the shield of faith)
- Trust in his salvation (take the helmet)
- Trust in his word (take the sword of the Spirit)
The Christian life is NOT an easy life. It is a true warfare, and it takes constant prayer, because the power to deliver us from Satan’s realm is the LORD’s and is activated by prayer. For that reason, we must keep alert and persevere not only for ourselves but for all the saints.
But spiritual warfare is not an end of itself. It frees us from the grip of Satan so that we can concenrate on the life of love that we are called to.
LORD, keep us alert and praying so that we can be free to love you with love incorruptible.
Devotions 