Don't Settle - June 13 Readings: Ephesians 6

Today’s Readings

Context

After continuing the teachings of chapter 5 on the life of one filled with the Spirit into the roles of fathers and children and slaves and masters, Paul closes the book with a powerful admonition to put on all the armor God has for us as we do battle with the spiritual forces of darkness. Using the pieces of armor the Roman soldiers wore, he reminded the Christian to put on the six key pieces of armor, each rooted in the word of God and then to go to battle in prayer. 

Devotional - Don't Settle 

I am not good at bargaining. On our way back from the villages, we always stop for a day in Ziguinchor, Senegal, and we go to the Artisan compound to do a little bit of souvenir shopping. Our guide, Alioune, is a master at haggling down he price. He won't settle until he gets the lowest possible price. I tend to give in and pay way too much. I settle.

Paul warns us, in Ephesians 6, not to settle for less than all that God has for us. We can't afford to settle. That is not some kind of motivational-guru, "be-all-you-can-be" call to reach your full potential. Paul is warning us that the days are evil and the enemy is powerful. You and I cannot afford to go into battle poorly armed and shoddily prepared. It's foolish. It's spiritual self-destruction.

The enemy is always ready, always prepared, always going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The Christian who goes out without the full armor is destined to fail in his battles with the principalities and powers.

Each of those pieces of armor represents two things - they represent Christ and they represent the power of the Word. You need to walk daily in the fullness of the Spirit, as chapter 5 commanded, but you also need to be in the word so that the power of Christ will be fully revealed in you. Your head, your heart, your feet, all of you need to be immersed in the word of God so that the power and presence of Christ will be seen through you.

Don't settle for anything less than the full armor of God. 

Father, clothe me today in the full armor of your Son!

Think and Pray

Are you settling for less than the full armor of God, or are you putting on all the resources God has given you, and walking in the full armor of God?