Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)
Read Ephesians 6:10-20 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Verse 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Verse 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Verse 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Verse 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Verse 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. Verse 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Verse 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Verse 18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Verse 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, Verse 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Devotion
When you and I get dressed in the morning, we seldom give a second thought to the purpose of each piece of clothing we put on. We put on a shirt or blouse to cover our arms and torso, to offer warmth. We put on trousers to cover our legs. We put on shoes to protect our feet and don a hat to cover our heads. In this final chapter of Ephesians, the author urges Christians to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s power.” To put on “the whole armor of God”—because we are in a struggle. We need God’s help and “spiritual armor”: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit—God’s Word. That’s because we cannot rely only on our own strength. But whatever clothing we wear each day, may we also “clothe ourselves” in God’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word.
Prayer
Lord, you call us to pray in the Spirit at all times. Help me to keep alert and to persevere with faith at all times and help me to speak boldly as an ambassador of your love. Amen.