“Put on all the armor that God gives you.” Ephesians 6:11 Today’s English Version
“Spiritual warfare, in which you are involved, is not a game and losing cannot be an option.”
My thoughts today are that you “play to win.”
There are some times that you play a game just for the joy of playing and competing. But there are times when you must play the game to win! Everyone likes to win, and everyone loves a winner. But not everything is a game; life is much more than a game to be played. It is a life to be lived well, a battle to be fought confidently, and a victory to be won gloriously. See Romans 8:37-39 NLT. The spiritual warfare in which you are daily involved is not a game, and losing cannot be an option.
When Paul describes the “all the armor God gives you,” he uses the metaphor of the Roman soldier, the most serious and successful army of its era, and something that the people reading his letter knew about first hand. They lived under the occupation of Rome’s army and government. He instructs that you take up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, and skillfully use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Faith “shields” you from the intention for harm that Satan sends your way. Faith stands between you and the evil one who seeks your hurt and destruction. But faith must be effectively exercised at every point of attack. Jesus taught that it is not the size or quantity of the faith that you have, but the whole-heartedness with which you have faith and express it. See Mark 12:22-24. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith. And who is the one that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5.
Salvation “helmets” your mind, where much of the warfare occurs, and where all of it begins. “Casting down every imagination . . . and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Knowing you are saved combats every attack against your sense of identity in Christ, and guards your mind from the doubts sown by Satan’s lies to you and about you, and certainly, his lies about God and His grace and love toward you. Jesus said this about the enemy of your soul, “There is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
The Word of God is the “Spirit’s sword” to counter every attack against truth. Jesus countered every perversion of Scripture and each attempted persuasion to turn Him from trusting the Father by responding simply, “It is written” and quoting God’s Word accurately, allowing truth to destroy Satan’s arguments. Matthew 4:1-11. Paul writes, “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” See Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV. The Bible tells you all the truth you need to prevail.
This is a battle you can and must win, because at the cross Jesus “disarmed the rulers and principalities and disgraced them publicly, triumphing over them.” Colossians 2:15. The enemy of your soul and antagonist in your daily life is soundly defeated.
My prayer for you today is that you will know that you are a winner; it’s your destiny in Christ.