Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
We have something special for you today. But not just today—all throughout this week, we're going to be focusing on the armor of God. I was actually planning to share something else, but I feel burdened to share a different perspective on the Verse of the Day. First, I want to let you know we love you. We care about you and where you're at spiritually, where you're at in your relationship with the Lord. I believe that this verse, in this week, and the power behind what we're going to be talking about can really impact you on a daily basis. Let’s get into it.
Our Verse of the Day today is Ephesians 6, chapter 11. It says, "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil."
Who Is Our Real Enemy?
I'm sure you've had times, especially in today's world, where you see all sorts of division. There are all sorts of sides, and usually when there are sides, we've perceived one side or the other as the enemy. I'm sure that sentence might bring a specific face into your mind. Maybe you had a name come to mind when you think of your enemy. I just want to pause and take some time today to consider this verse in the context of what we're going to be talking about—about what we're up against and who our enemy is.
We have an enemy. This verse talks about it, about all the strategies of the devil. When we think about the battle that we're in and the struggle that we're in, when we think about sides, the people that impact us, and our enemy—I've fallen into this trap before. When there's a human face behind something that's going on with you, I can have people do whatever they want to me, and I usually can roll with it. But man, if you impact my family, I have a very difficult time understanding and actually realizing who the real enemy is. I've had times in life that I've gotten very, very upset with people because it was negatively impacting my family. God taught me that, during the difficult times, He was at work the entire time.
David's Example
One biblical illustration that I would love to share when we're thinking about the enemy and our armor as we prepare for it, is David. Before he went up against Goliath, King Saul called him into his tent, and he put on all of his armor. I can imagine if you and I were going up against Goliath, we would be saying, oh my goodness, make sure every inch of my body is covered. I want to be protected. But Saul put on all of this armor, and David said, you know what? This is not for me. I don't need this. I'm protected enough by God.
Think about that when you're going up against this giant who is trained in military, and probably could wipe you off the face of the earth in one fatal swoop. Now think about how David says, no, I don't want this armor. In daily life, when we’re going against the struggles and difficulties that we have as challenges in our life, and somehow as we perceive different sides and enemies, we can start building up defenses of how we think we can protect ourselves. We lose sight of the real battle that we're in.
Jesus on the Cross
Do you know what? One of the greatest things the enemy can do to get us off course is making us think there's some human face behind every enemy in your life. I would just encourage you to consider, in this moment, as Jesus hung on the cross, if we were in His shoes, we would have the enemies of the Pharisees and Sadducees that started prompting the people to shout, "Crucify Him!" All the people that were shouting "Crucify Him!" that brought Him to His ultimate condemnation to be crucified. The Roman soldiers that actually nailed Him to the cross. Yet He looked down on them and He said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing," because He knew the real enemy.
On that cross He defeated our enemy—death, sin, hell, and the devil—all in one fatal swoop. He offers to you that today. I would just encourage you to be mindful every day this week as we talk about suiting up for our daily struggle, our daily battle that we live. I would encourage you to take some time with the Lord today and focus on how He wants to equip you for the real battle that we're in, to fight with His armor, with His presence, to defeat our real enemy.
We're praying for you as you navigate this challenge and the struggles that we have today.