Ephesians 6:9-24: a reflection

9You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him. 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 19Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things. 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts. 23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

As Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians, he calls them to be strong for a battle that is not against human foes. Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, he says, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness; and therefore, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The battle is real and spiritual, and we are not to face it in our own strength but in the armor God provides: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, all sustained by prayer. God has provided the armor; our part is to put it on and stand.

Notice that the battle is spiritual, and God provides the armor for it. Paul does not tell the Ephesians to face the spiritual battle in their own strength; he tells them to put on the whole armor of God. The struggle is real, against spiritual forces of wickedness, not merely against human foes; and it is not to be faced unarmed or in our own resources, but in the armor God provides. Every piece is God's provision: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, his word, prayer. Our part is not to manufacture our own defenses, but to put on the armor God has given and stand in it. The armor is God's provision for a battle we could not win in our own strength; we are to put it on and stand.

That is worth taking to heart, for we face a real spiritual battle, and God has provided the armor to stand in it. We can try to face the spiritual battles of our lives, the wiles of the enemy, the forces of evil, in our own strength and resources, and find ourselves overwhelmed; but Paul calls us to put on the whole armor of God, provided by him for this very battle. We are not to fight unarmed or in our own strength, but in God's provision. Do not try to face the spiritual battle in your own strength; put on the whole armor of God, provided by him, and stand in it. Put on the whole armor of God to stand firm in the real spiritual battle, not facing it in your own strength but in the provision God has given, truth and righteousness and faith and his word, sustained by prayer, as Paul calls us to take up the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil; for the battle is real and spiritual, and God has provided the armor by which we may stand, so that our part is to put it on rather than to fight in our own strength.

Lord, as Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians, he calls them to be strong for a battle that is not against human foes. Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, he says, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness; and therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The battle is real and spiritual, and we are not to face it in our own strength but in the armor you provide: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, all sustained by prayer. Show me that the battle is spiritual, and you provide the armor for it. Paul does not tell the Ephesians to face the spiritual battle in their own strength; he tells them to put on the whole armor of you. The struggle is real, against spiritual forces of wickedness; and it is not to be faced unarmed or in our own resources, but in the armor you provide. Every piece is your provision: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, your word, prayer. Our part is not to manufacture our own defenses, but to put on the armor you have given and stand in it. Take that to my heart, for I face a real spiritual battle, and you have provided the armor to stand in it. I can try to face the spiritual battles of my life, the wiles of the enemy, in my own strength and resources, and find myself overwhelmed; but Paul calls me to put on the whole armor of you, provided for this very battle. Keep me from trying to face the spiritual battle in my own strength; help me put on the whole armor of you, Lord, and stand in it, truth and righteousness and faith and your word, sustained by prayer, to stand against the wiles of the devil.