As soldiers of the Lord, we are to be strong in the Lord’s strength and might. Armed with a mind and heart to fight the fight of faith, we must put on the whole armor of God in order to gain victory over the powers of evil which seek to undermine his Kingdom. God provides spiritual weapons to fight against the cosmic forces of darkness and the spiritual powers of evil. We wage war with spiritual weapons of truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, and persevering prayer.

Among the armor of God, we are to put on the shoes for readiness given by the Gospel of peace. We are also to take up the shield of faith, which can extinguish the devil’s flaming darts. The Gospel is the saving message of God for all, and our faith is the victory which overcomes the world.

Thank you, Father, for the Gospel, the message of salvation that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. And thank you for the shield of faith that can extinguish all the flaming darts of the enemy, i.e., his lies and falsehoods he uses to attack us. Give us a heart to use the armor that you have supplied to us. In Jesus’s name, amen.

The proclamation of the royal priesthood is marked by the virtue of bold humility – even in the face of potential suffering. Lesslie Newbigin likens proclamation to a witness who is called to speak at a trial. Ultimately the truth will be revealed and a final verdict made. In the meantime the royal priesthood’s responsibility is to proclaim the truth in word and deed to a watching world. This proclamation takes place as the royal priesthood serves as a “sign, foretaste, and instrument of the kingdom.” Life in the kingdom is life in the footsteps of Jesus – a path that has often led faithful practitioners of proclamation into costly suffering (Heb 12:2).

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss, Representing Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. p. 140.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Put on the Armor of God, Ephesians 6.10-18

Book Reading
Anizor and Voss, Representing Christ