Devotionals

Paul has finished communicating proper doctrine and then applying that right doctrine to specific contexts in our lives. Another way of saying this is Belief and Behavior or Faith and Practice. Paul doesn't stop there though. He continues on with an amazing passage that reminds us that when we put our faith into practice, we are walking into a battle. For a Christian, that battle is happening all day every day and we need to be prepared. 

Our preparation does not begin with us being stronger or relying on our own strength. Our strength, just as our salvation in the first part of the letter of Ephesians, begins and rests in the power of the Lord. Our role is to surrender and His role is to show up in powerful ways in and through our lives. It is not the strength of our might but rather the strength of His might that will see us through all of the spiritual warfare that is constantly around us. 

We can't show up half-dressed and think that we are going to win the battle. Paul employees us to put on the "whole armor of God." In the greek, this is translated "the complete equipment of a heavy-armed soldier." The complete equipment is key. You cannot enter battle with any part of your being exposed. Tomorrow we will being looking at this "complete equipment" that Paul talks about. 

Be encouraged and show up completely dressed!