Meditations on Ephesians 6:1-20

I’m intend here to only spend time meditating on what this passage (Ephesians 6:10-20) teaches.

1. It is possible to be strengthened in the Lord Jesus, to find my power in God.
2. It is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus’ mighty power. Jesus, Who gave up all power, now has it back, and it is mighty. There is no force comparable to it. It sends the greatest evils in the universe fleeing. It has defeated these evils, and someday will finish them. Lord Jesus, I am weak — please make me strong in You and Your mighty power.
3. There is a full armor of God that the whole church is meant to don. I just read about it in my commentary (The New Bible Commentary), and I am pretty awed, pretty comforted, pretty enveloped in peace. Here are some strong takeaway impressions:
   1. The decisive victory being already one at the cross and resurrection, we now are called to stand, simply to hold our ground against the devil’s schemes. He does a vast variety of things, most commonly to tempt each of us to disobey God and think under corrupt parameters. The armors listed for us are some of the same as are listed for God in Isaiah (e.g., 59:17). They all–each one–stem from a spiritual understanding of the gospel of peace: namely, that through Christ the whole cosmos will be redeemed. This spiritual understanding comes only from God. It is not man-made or wrought by man’s mind in any way. No one would make this up: a brave God? a weak God? a dying God? a God receiving His own wrath? Ask our Father to take you deeper into the gospel of peace–I am compelled to do this daily, perhaps moreso. I may never plumb its depths.
   2. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God–the gospel, or the Bible that holds it–is our weapon. Perhaps not merely in memorizing Scripture and reciting it at the devil, but rather being set firmly in the gospel. We now sit with Jesus in authority (the helmet of our salvation), so let us combat the evil of this world with the truth. Not spitefully, but in love. Remember, it is a gospel of peace. God hasn’t called an end to this age, yet, because of His patience. We should thank Him for His patience–He waited for us, and now He waits for untold others.

Lord, thank You for waiting for me before You brought an end to this age. Thank You for waiting for my friends and family who don’t yet know You. Lord, please save them; please pierce their darknesses with the light of Your Son, His light through His church.

I pray for the gospel, God. I pray for all of those today who will open their mouths, that words might be given them so that they will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. I pray, Lord, that many would come to know You today, for Your glory, and that their salvation would be proved through perseverance. And that mine would, too.

I offer myself up to You today, Jesus–this is only a reasonable act of service.

Tags: armor of God, Ephesians 6:1-20, fearlessness, God the Father, gospel, Jesus Christ, people getting saved, prayer, reasonable act of service, the gospel of peace