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.

We must take up the helmet of salvation to protect us from the enemy’s attacks. Likewise, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, provides us with a ready weapon to declare the truth. All the armor of God must be bound together by persevering prayer.

Thank you, Father, for our salvation in Christ, which serves as a helmet of protection against the enemy’s attacks, and the sword of the Spirit, which allows us to answer every false claim the enemy makes against us. Your armor empowers us for the fight. Lead us as we follow you, in Christ’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