As you grow in your discipleship, and as you start to know more and more about the Bible, certain scriptural ideas will become increasingly prominent in your mind. 

For example, you will most likely be able to quote the greatest commandment or the golden rule. You will be familiar with the “fruit of the Spirit.” You will also have a good grasp on the Ten Commandments. 

The rubber hits the road, of course, when we put these teachings into practice.

Another familiar passage is the “armour of God” as listed in Ephesians 6:10-18. Paul begins by saying: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

He goes on to describe God’s armour. We should put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. We should put on boots ready to proclaim the good news of peace, and take up the “sword of the Spirit” which is God’s word. Having done all this, we should also pray.

Paul is using language that is both metaphorical and literal. He doesn’t expect you to put on physical armour. But he is expecting you to put on actual armour. 

During my morning prayers, I put the armour on. I go through that list—out loud. Not only am I dressing myself for actual battle in the spiritual realm, but I am announcing to the powers of darkness that they had better run.

Jon Thompson explains Paul’s outlook: “Taken in whole, Paul consistently demonstrates his view that evil is personal, with real beings in the kingdom of darkness ranked to carry out mayhem in the world.”*

There is an actual battle going on (whether you want to admit it or not). It’s not a flesh-and-blood battle, but against the “powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (verse 12). I’m not saying you need to do the exact same thing I do. What I am saying is that people who go onto an actual battlefield without armour don’t tend to do very well. 

Christ is King. The victory is assured. But the battle is in progress.  

Put on the armour of God. 

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Notes:

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on June 17, 2024.
–*Jon Thompson, Deliverance (Ajax: Sanctus Church, 2021), 94.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.