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Armor for the Body - February 20, 2007
Ephesians 6:10 Put on the full armor of God
I was donning my "armor", as I often do each morning. That is, I try and remember to do it early, before the day gets underway and takes on a life of its own. When I forget, it's usually not long before something happens to remind me I haven't done that.
As I was going through each piece and putting it on, stepping into it, or taking it up, a picture of our church came into my mind's eye. The thought occurred to me, why not put the armor on the church body, as well as my own body?
The Bible says that the church is us, the body of believers. Not a building, but brothers and sisters in the Lord, adopted children by our Abba Father (Eph. 1:5) Also says that, together, we are one body, with Christ as the head (Rom. 12:4-5, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18).
I began to picture this, as I continued putting on the spiritual armor of God:
Belt of truth honesty with God, myself, and others. Integrity.
Breastplate of righteousness to guard hearts, emotions and feelings.
Shoes of peace to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not wandering on our own paths.
Shield of faith to deflect and stop the arrows shot at us by the enemy.
Helmet of salvation (Gr.,souzo) meaning saved, as well as delivered, safe, preserved, healed, healthy, sound, and whole Sword of the Spirit the Word of God, our solid bottom-line; "It is written.."
That's six items. The number representing completeness in the bible is seven; we add the 7th part of the "armor" which is to stand. Not just "stand there and do nothing", but stand praying for one another. This covers the vulnerable parts of the body, like lungs and kidneys, still left exposed.
Thank you, Lord, for providing your armor for my body, and for our corporate body, each and every day.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: [email protected] Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.
Ephesians 6:10 Put on the full armor of God
I was donning my "armor", as I often do each morning. That is, I try and remember to do it early, before the day gets underway and takes on a life of its own. When I forget, it's usually not long before something happens to remind me I haven't done that.
As I was going through each piece and putting it on, stepping into it, or taking it up, a picture of our church came into my mind's eye. The thought occurred to me, why not put the armor on the church body, as well as my own body?
The Bible says that the church is us, the body of believers. Not a building, but brothers and sisters in the Lord, adopted children by our Abba Father (Eph. 1:5) Also says that, together, we are one body, with Christ as the head (Rom. 12:4-5, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18).
I began to picture this, as I continued putting on the spiritual armor of God:
Belt of truth honesty with God, myself, and others. Integrity.
Breastplate of righteousness to guard hearts, emotions and feelings.
Shoes of peace to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not wandering on our own paths.
Shield of faith to deflect and stop the arrows shot at us by the enemy.
Helmet of salvation (Gr.,souzo) meaning saved, as well as delivered, safe, preserved, healed, healthy, sound, and whole Sword of the Spirit the Word of God, our solid bottom-line; "It is written.."
That's six items. The number representing completeness in the bible is seven; we add the 7th part of the "armor" which is to stand. Not just "stand there and do nothing", but stand praying for one another. This covers the vulnerable parts of the body, like lungs and kidneys, still left exposed.
Thank you, Lord, for providing your armor for my body, and for our corporate body, each and every day.
Contributed by Sally I. Kennedy: [email protected] Sally is the author of "52 Little Parables from Ireland" Creation House Press.
