May 20, 2025

Ephesians 6:13-17  (HCSB)
13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore,
with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.
16 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

Israel Brooks
One does not act on holy ground the way one acts on common ground. Nor is a holy life lived as a common life. Just as we need to know our foe to be successful in this battle called life, we must also know our help, our Father. As the Psalmist says in chapter 121, “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” We are told to “put on the full armor of GOD.” It is HIS armor. We are HIS holy people/army. He sits enthroned above the earth. He rules without equal. He laid the foundations of the earth and told the waves to go this far and no more. There is no authority except for that which God has established. Paul goes on to describe the kind of “armor” (behavior) Christians need to protect themselves from Satan. We need truth, righteousness, readiness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit in order to be ready and to stand firm. All of this rooted and established in and only by God! God is our source, strength and protection! God is the giver of armor! God is our help and the firm foundation upon which we must build!