Thursday July 22, 2010

Read Ephesians 6:13-17

Let’s play a game to start with today. I want you to define these biblical words as best you can in line with their biblical meaning/usage.

Truth.

Righteousness:

The Gospel:

Peace:

Faith:

Salvation:

The Word of God:

Having done that, re-read the set passage for today.  Having re-read it, doesn’t it make a  lot more sense. Often we focus on the armour we have in Christ rather than on what those bits of armour really are!  The bits of armour are the metaphor. The important part is the things we have in Christ to fight the good fight.

As a soldier for Jesus we have the Truth. This truth (the Word of God, see John 17:17) is the standard by which we assess all things. If something rejects or negates or opposes the Word we don’t accept it or give it  time in the church. We have the righteousness of Christ given to us by faith.  All my sins are pardoned and I am fully acquitted. I am fully righteous in Christ. Therefore I seek to be righteous in all I do, say and think. I strive to become all that God, in Christ, has declared me to be. We have the gospel of peace.  As we battle the evil one, we share the gospel with non believers. As they repent and believe in Jesus, they too will be at peace with God. Whatever else we do with, to, or for people, we must be sharing the gospel of peace with them. We have faith.  No matter how bad life gets we trust God. We know that His love will never be taken away. We know that our salvation is secure and His love will never leave us. Our doubts will dissolve as we cling to Christ through faith.  We have salvation. God has redeemed us and purchased us by the blood of Jesus. The price is fully paid and nothing can remove salvation from us. Finally we have the Word of God. The Word of God is living and active. It is powerful. It needs to remain in us and we need to speak it out into the various battles and situations we find ourselves in.

As you think about what we have been given in Christ I pray that you are overwhelmed with the love and generosity of Christ. I pray that you are ready, willing and eager to fight the good fight, to run with perseverance the race marked out for you, to battle the enemy in whatever way shape or form needed today.

Prayer:-

• Ask God to strengthen Christians in Iran and Iraq as they face pressure to leave the country. Pray that these men and women and children will be a great light for Jesus.

Do It Today

Write out your testimony about how God has worked in your life to bring you to Himself.

Pray that God will give you a chance to share it with another person today.