“Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
(Ephesians 6:11)
When Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 6, he was probably sitting in a Roman prison, chained to a Roman soldier. As he looked at the soldier, he was reminded that we are in a spiritual battle every day. So, he used the armor of this Roman soldier to paint a picture of our own spiritual defenses against our enemy, Satan.
How would Paul paint the picture if he were living in the 21st Century and acquainted with modern-day warfare? Allow me to attempt a paraphrase of Ephesians 6:13-18 as a modern-day word picture of our spiritual defenses…
Put on your full spiritual armor so that when Satan attacks, you are able to withstand his attack and be victorious in your Christian life.
Make sure you have your survival belt of truth on, fully loaded with ammo and supplies; and your bullet-proof vest of Christ’s righteousness in place.
Stand firm with your combat boots on and laced up with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Now, jump in your armored Humvee of faith, for protection against Satan’s grenades and IED’s as you travel your spiritual journey ahead; and be sure to wear your combat helmet of salvation to protect your mind against the enemy’s propaganda.
Carry your assault rifle, fully loaded with the words of Scripture, ready to fire at the enemy.
And finally, be sure you consult your commanding officer before going into battle. Ask for his directions and follow his battle plans. Always be alert and remember your comrades fighting alongside you in the battle.
If you have some other ideas on how to contemporize this passage, feel free to share your thoughts in my blog. But more importantly, I pray that you are experiencing victory as you walk your spiritual journey!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the spiritual armor you provide to fight the spiritual battle.
I am so grateful that you have promised victory in Jesus Christ.
May Your Word empower me & Your Holy Spirit strengthen me
day-by-day on my spiritual journey!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
