A Good Fight

Ephesians 6:10-12  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.  Put on the armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

A few years ago I was talking with a good friend of mine who happened to play defensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He was a very large and physically powerful man.  We were hanging out at his house just a few weeks before training camp and usually he would try to put on as much weight as possible before the season.  I started to tease him about his belly and reached out to smack it.  What happened next was a wrestling match I could not win.  He put me in a headlock and just held me.  Honestly, I was astonished at his strength.  I quickly realized this was not a “good fight” for me and called uncle. 

In Ephesians 6 we are reminded that each one of us is in a fight.  This fight is not against another person.  It is not your wife, a boss, or a neighbor.  Our fight is against a spiritual enemy.  The good news is that we don’t have to fight alone.  Paul calls us to stand our ground through the gospel of peace.  In addition, we also see that God gives us other tools in the daily fight that all of us face.  The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the spirit also help us stand our ground. 

How about you?  Are you facing a temptation today that you just cannot overcome on your own?  Do you feel intimidated by a personal challenge and need God’s strength? 

Take a few minutes to read and reflect on Ephesians 6:10-17 and put on the armor of God today!

God Bless,

Mike