Whole armor of God
Day 630, Sunday, May 3
Ephesians 6:10-24
Ephesians ends with one of the letter’s best know passages as Paul advises his readers to put on the armor of God.
We sometimes give less attention to what comes before the list of armor, though. In 6:12 we read, “For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.”
That kind of language can make people uncomfortable—even believers. But discomfort is no reason to disregard what this says.
Often, even most of the time, what we think we are fighting against is not what we are fighting against. Most of the struggles and wrongdoings in the world are reflections of a more significant battle going on between God and evil.
This is a spiritual equivalent of the psychological insights that tell us that what appears to upset a person is often a reflection of some deeper, older, hurt that has little to do with the current situation.
It’s when we realize what the battle is really about that we see the wisdom of preparing ourselves with spiritual armor: truth, righteousness, readiness to announce the Good News of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 119:33-40
Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your laws, and I will obey them at all times. Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart. Keep me obedient to your commandments, because in them I find happiness. Give me the desire to obey your laws rather than to get rich. Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised. Keep your promise to me, your servant—the promise you make to those who obey you. Save me from the insults I fear; how wonderful are your judgments! I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous.

Prayer focus
Arm us, O God, for the battles that are before us.