Being
strong in the Lord is not the same thing as being strong. In fact the only way
to be strong in the strength of the Lord is to let go of whatever strength you
think you might have. Even the self-discipline of daily devotionals or spending
time in the word and worship can get in the way of surrendering
self-sufficiency in order to pick up what God would have us put on. Don’t get
me wrong. Acts of piety are helpful but they are not the source of strength
that allows one to stand against all that is against us. So the first piece of
armor to put on is the belt of truth because everything else attaches to it. We
admit the truth about ourselves (that we are our own worst enemies) while
confessing the truth about the God who dies so that enemies might be called friends.
The breastplate of righteousness cannot be attached to dishonesty therefore our
admission and confession makes a place for being right with ourselves and God.
The mission of the church is often mired in mud and would have the world
worship at its altar but the truth of the Gospel compels feet to go to proclaim
peace to those who would never darken the door of our sanctuaries. The shield
of faith allows us to live with all that threatens without being threatened by
those very same things. And heads fitted firmly with salvation means the “here
and now” is fully fitted with the “there and then” which is to say we live the
forever future in the present whenever we think of ourselves as eternal
creatures.
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