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
I once served on a state advisory council for funding non-profit organizations. Reviewing grant proposals was in part an imprecise process and often vindictive words were spoken if funding was not granted. One year when things had been particularly tumultuous, I remember quoting this section of Ephesians to the beleaguered staff: “For 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.”
It was a way of taking personalities out of the equation. It was not the case that people were “bad” or “good.” It was simply the situation that forces beyond us were vying for control and putting us in impossible situations!
It is the beginning of wisdom to see beyond personalities to recognize that often the powers at work in this world put us in difficult places!
Prayer
Help me, Lord God, always to recognize the belovedness of individuals, and to discern the bedevilment of being caught up in the struggle of powers and principalities. Amen.
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