"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11
I'm doing a ten week Bible study with some of the other ladies who work at the crisis pregnancy center where I volunteer one day a week. It's written by Beth Moore and is titled "David: Seeking a Heart Like His". Last week some of our homework involved reading about battles being fought between Saul's army and David's army. I couldn't help but think back to David's early life when he fought the giant Goliath FOR Saul's army. Even at that young age, David knew where his strength and abilities came from. We know that because of what he said to Goliath just before slinging that smooth stone from the brook into the giant's forehead! David said: "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands." And we know that is exactly what happened.
In our homework last week David and Saul had come to be enemies. David has been promised the kingdom and the crown of Israel but it's a long time coming it seems. There are battles to be fought and heartaches to be endured. Beth Moore made the statement that "Old regimes rarely crumble without bloodshed." I know she was talking about actual "regimes" but I could not help but think about how it's also true for bad habits or addictions that have become strongholds in our lives. These rarely are overcome either without a fight. Satan would love for us to be stuck in the murk and mire of sin continually and never feel the freedom and thrill of victory through Christ! There is a constant battle going on in the life of every Christian. Ephesians 6:12 tells us who our enemy is: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Beth's statement that "Old regimes rarely crumble without bloodshed" can be taken to new levels when I think about how my old life of pleasing the flesh before I became a Christian could only be changed through bloodshed....the blood that was shed on Calvary's cross by Jesus Christ.
So now as a saved person, may I expect to live a battle free life? No, because the Bible declares that Satan will always be fighting against us as long as we draw a breath here on earth. But God doesn't leave us defenseless. He tells us that we can be prepared for war by these means: " Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Like David, we as Christians have been promised a kingdom and a crown...but not of this world...and it,too, sometimes seems like a long time in coming. Just stay in the fight for the right. Put on your Spiritual Armour but always remember that in the end, the battle is the Lord's ! Trust in Him!
God bless you.
Marilyn
