The gifts of armour
by Sue Westhorp
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Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).
When I was a teenager, a good friend asked me to join the local hockey team with her. I readily agreed and set off to the sports shop to find out what equipment I would need. I came home laden with a sports top, sports skirt, footy boots, footy socks, hockey stick, shin pads and a mouthguard. Just a tad more equipment than my previous exploits in tennis had required! I’ll never forget the feeling of turning up to my first match, fully ‘armoured’ and ready to face the opposing team. I felt invincible! As it turns out, I wasn’t, but I still had a lot of fun and some bruises to show for it.
The truth is, I have no experience of what it is like to wear armour or experience physical battle. Often, I find it hard to relate to military or battle imagery in the Bible. Yet, it is there for a reason. This forces me to think deeper about what the battle with the devil can look like in life.
Perhaps it is the voice that causes you to question whether you really are saved. It might be the voice that says, ‘How could God love me after what I’ve done?’ Or it could be the feelings of shame that cause you to doubt your identity as a beloved, baptised child of God.
In today’s text, Paul lists the parts of the armour that help us to withstand the devil’s attacks: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the word of God. All gifts that we have been given by God. All gifts that remind us of who we are in the light of the gospel and God’s redemptive love. And to top it all off, we are given the gift of prayer, which allows us to call on God in times of need or attack. So, we can venture forth into life boldly, knowing who we are and being equipped to deal with whatever attacks may come.
Loving God, in our baptism you give us all we need – our identity in you. When we are attacked, help us to draw on the gifts of armour that you have given us, trusting that you will be with us. Amen.
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