Battle Ready #1 of 5 - Be Strong in the Lord, June 10
Written by Thomas Sherrod
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13 NIV).
After college graduation and before leaving for seminary, I worked as a counselor in a hospital for troubled adolescents. In many ways, it was an eye-opening yet sad time. I saw what a lack of love, guidance, and family structure can do to a young person. There were a lot of angry teenagers trying to process some complex and conflicting emotions. One afternoon a particularly irate sixteen-year-old young man got into a physical altercation with a few staff members. He became verbally threatening at the end of our shift, daring us to return the next day. My blood pressure was definitely elevated as I left to drive home. What was I going to do? I was scheduled to work the next day. The young man was obviously disturbed and had a history of violence.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul paints a sobering and realistic picture of what we as Christians confront each day. We struggle against the powers of this dark world. The young man who promised to harm me was himself a product of years of physical and emotional abuse. However, he lacked the resources to process his family situation in a healthy manner. His mode of operation, which was not productive, was to lash out at anyone in authority.
The Ephesian church was also dealing with a threat. Their unity as Christians was being challenged. Paul gives them direct instructions on how to deal with family strife and personal relations. He tells them the devil is a schemer seeking to lead them away from God. He advises them to put on the full armor of God, so they can stand when the day of evil comes. The scripture clearly states the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). Paul tells the Ephesians to be battle ready.
Cancer is a formidable foe. It can strike anyone at any time. It can lead you away from God. Your questions and emotions may tempt you to discard your long-held faith. Standing in the midst of such a threatening storm takes uncommon strength. It takes the Lord. Paul admonishes the Ephesians to “be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10 NIV)—not in themselves, but to be strong in the Lord! He lists the pieces of God’s armor they were to put on in order to be battle ready. In the next few devotionals, I will finish the story of the young man in the hospital and describe the armor of God that equips you for battle.
Pray: Lord, thank You for arming me with Your strength. Thank You for the privilege of having a personal relationship with You. You are my only hope. Thank You for fighting my battles and giving me Your peace. Amen.
Your Turn: Ask God to help you trust in His armor. Thank Him for the ability to stand in victory each day regardless of the threat.
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
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