Isn’t it nice to know there is armor we can put on for the spiritual warfare? But what does that mean? This devotion looks at the shield of faith and shoes of peace.
Nuggets
- Our faith tells us God is with us.
- Even though the shield was big, since it was carried, the soldier had the flexibility to move it to the direction from which the attack was coming.
- Our shield will quench “… all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph. 6: 16 RSV).
- Peace is a contentment that only faith in Jesus can give.
- We can’t wait until the trial shows up to start reading our Bible and praying to God.
To read devotions in the Armor of God series, click the appropriate button below.
We are looking into the armor of God. Specifically, we are looking at it through the lens of the following question: How are we exposed when we take off this part of the armor?
We’ve looked at truth and righteousness. In this devotion, we are looking at peace and faith.
Okay, I am going to flip the verses. I think my thoughts will flow easier that way.
Faith
“besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph. 6: 16 RSV)
Faith
We’ve talked extensively about faith. At the bottom of the Seeking God with Elaine homepage is a link to archived devotions. Click on Faith to see all of these. There is one that is more of a definition devotion that may help if the concept of faith is foreign to some.
Faith is the belief that the doctrines stated in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them. We believe God’s promises. We believe Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior. Everything else — salvation, regeneration, become a child and heir of God — is dependent on this.
Think about not having faith — either because we have put it down or never picked it up — when we deal with the consequences of sin. Disease isn’t limited to just disciples. Think about facing a disease — such as cancer or one that caused paralysis — without knowing the Great Physician.
Death isn’t limited to disciples. Last weekend there was a devastating wreck that took the lives of four people. Think about facing the deaths of young and older alike if friends and loved ones didn’t have the assurance of their eternal life.
We could keep going, but I want you to keep reading. My point is our faith tells us God is with us. That is one of His promises to us. We have faith to believe that.
Shield
The shields carried by soldiers in Paul’s time symbolized their honor. Liddon described those shields as a “… large, oblong, oval shield, clothed with hides, [that] covered well nigh whole body of the bearer ….” Several commentaries said the shield was as big as a door.
The soldier carried the shield. Even though it was big, since it was carried, the soldier had the flexibility to move it to the direction from which the attack was coming.
The shield is our protection. Our faith is our protection in times of trials. It protects all of us, not just one section like the breastplate protects the heart.
What is Satan hurling at us? Paul describes them as “… all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph. 6: 16 RSV). Our shield will quench them.
Notice it says extinguish, not eliminate. Shields don’t stop the blows from coming — they take the brunt and leave us virtually unscathed.
Think about what we said in What Does Propitiation Mean? Jesus took the blows for us.
Paul just said darts. However, shields could potentially protect the soldiers from sword swings, arrows, and rocks. Satan has a huge arsenal with which he can come after us.
The shield has to be strong to withstand the blows. But don’t you think the soldiers test drove them before they were in the thick of the battle? The shield has to prove it was strong.
Our faith has to be proven. We have to show we are rock solid — or I should say Rock solid. We have to prove we have a heart faith, not a head faith.
But what does the shield do? It gives us confidence that we can withstand Satan’s temptation. We are not alone in fighting him. In fact, it really isn’t us doing the fighting — it is God.
Peace
“and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6: 15 RSV)
Peace
Peace was a theme Paul revisited several times in his letter to the Ephesians. The peace Paul was talking about mostly was absence of conflict.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
The peace he was talking about here was contentment — contentment that only faith in Jesus can give. Disciples get this contentment through the assurance that our sins have been forgiven. We no longer have to pay the price for our sins.
Yes, we will still be subjected to the consequences of sins while we are on this earth. But we are no longer spiritually dead once we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, confess God as Sovereign Lord, and demonstrate that commitment by following our job description.
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Once we become disciples, we have the peace of God because we know we are no longer alone in facing the trials and temptation do this life. We know we can “cast [our] burden on the Lord, and He will support [us]; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (Ps. 55: 22 CSB).
How does God give us peace? We know we can depend on God because He knows the past, present, and future (I Jn. 3: 20). This calms our fears and should shape our desires.
Submission is another theme in Ephesians. Paul’s point was we gain peace when we submit to God. When we follow His laws and commandments and all of the teaching contained in His Word, peace comes our way.
This contentment peace does affect our conflict peace. When we are more content with our lives and its circumstances, we interact in better ways with fellow believers and non-believers.
Feet
Now, I like tooling around the apartment barefooted. Walking outside — not so much. In a battle? No way. I would have to have shoes.
Think about the shoes a second. They had to be well made it this case. Soldiers not only had to walk countless miles to get to the battle, but they also had to have that footwear support them in the battles.
We have to remember this was usually a daily occurrence for the soldiers. True, they would probably get a break. But when they were on the thick of battle, it was all hands-on deck for the duration. So, the shoes had to hold up.
Preparation
We’ve talked before about our need to be prepared. We can’t wait until the trial shows up to start reading our Bible and praying to God.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
We have to know what we believe and why we believe it. We have to live that out consistently. That will make us ready when the trials and temptations come.
Think of the peace that brings. We are more confident that we can withstand the darts. We are ready for anything. We know that, with God fighting, the darts will be extinguished.
Making the Connections
I know. It is hard to have a rock-firm faith sometimes when the darts are flying. But that is what we are called to have. Remember, we are still in the regeneration process.
When we don’t feel the peace, a lot of times it is because we’ve faith put down the faith. Our faith isn’t rock solid.
Who is the Rock? No, not Dwayne Johnson. Jesus is our Rock (I Cor. 10: 3-4).
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Some of us think we need the peace before we can get to the faith. It doesn’t work that way. Peace comes from God after we have confessed to Him.
We keep regenerating as we keep having faith. Faith goes, regeneration goes. Faith goes, peace goes.
We had a boxer once. His name was Luey (Ludwig van of Elan was his full, official puppy name). We bought him from the pet store in the mall.
When we first got him, Luey limped. Part of that was he had been standing on a cage floor.
Mainly, it was Luey had to grow into his feet. He had these honking paws that the rest of him just wasn’t quite big enough to coordinate.
We are like that when we first ask God to be our Sovereign Lord. We have to grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3: 18). While we are growing, we are preparing ourselves for battle.
How Do We Apply This?
We have to be constant in our preparing for the battle. We do this by seeking God. We have to fully rest on God’s promises.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17 NLT).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16 ESV).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11 NLT).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11 NLT).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
We have to make sure we are fully in tune with God’s will. We can’t be compromising with the world to make sure that we have an easier life here.
That means we have to not only focus on what Jesus has done for us, but we must also share the gospel good news with non-believers.
Loving Heavenly Father. Faith is Your gift to us. When we have faith in You, we have peace. Help us to prepare and pick up our shield so that we can be prepared when Satan begins the temptations. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Do Disciples Escape Persecution? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Are Disciples Peacemakers? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: When Is It Time for Salvation after Conversion? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Enticement of Sin – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: What Happens in the Middle of the Tribulation? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: What Is the War in Heaven? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Applying the Spiritual World to Everyday Life – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Are We to Submit to God? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Submitting to Christ – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Recognizing Evil Thoughts by Watching and Praying – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Joy in Knowing Jesus – Seeking God with Elaine