Ephesians: A 10-Day Reading PlanShembull

Are You Starting The Day Ready For Battle?

In the movie "Gladiator," Maximus Decimus Meridius goes from being a general in the Roman army to being a slave and gladiator. Maximus is incredibly skilled in combat, but no matter his arena, he never goes out to fight without his body armor, shield, and sword.

The Greek word for “whole armor” in Ephesians 6 is “panoplia,” which refers to the shield and weapons of a fully armed soldier. Knowing our lives will be faced with trouble, and that Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, Paul advises us to put on the full armor of God.

As humans, we were not meant to fight the troubles of this world on our own. Our enemy is powerful, but the Lord trumps the enemy’s power by a long shot, and He gives us exactly what we need to stand firm against our enemy.

The armor God gives us — righteousness, salvation, faith, the Bible, peace, the Holy Spirit, and prayer — offer far more strength than physical armor ever could. With these tools, we can defend ourselves against the enemy in the tough times and train proactively in good times.

God is who He says He is. He is a good Father who only gives good gifts to His children. When we equip ourselves with the knowledge and memory of His Word, we can fight against the lies our enemy throws our way.

Reflect:

• What is one area of your life where you have found yourself giving the enemy a foothold? What has God given you to stand firm against the enemy in this area?
• Which piece of spiritual armor do you struggle to use the most?