“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10–11
We are in a real war. Don’t be fooled by the apparent freedom, don’t be fooled by the lack of real persecution, and don’t be fooled by what seems to be harmless. Just because we can do basic tasks like going to the store without the threat of danger doesn’t mean that we live in peacetime.
We have a real enemy, and he hates you. We don’t just wrestle with our personal sin, we wrestle with the ways of this world and the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2).
Would you go about your day the same way if you were in a war zone? Would you pray the same in peacetime as you would in wartime? The answer is definitely no. If you are in a war, you live differently and you pray differently. You go about your life’s mission differently if you know the orders are from your Commander-in-Chief rather than your insurance salesman.
Our enemy is at war every second of every day, roaming around like a lion, looking to destroy and devour (1 Peter 5). Paul has an answer for us, and it isn’t being strong in our strength. He tells us above in Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
What can you do to combat an enemy who is trying to destroy you? Be strong in the Lord. He has defeated Satan, sin, and death, and although our enemy roams around looking to destroy and devour, we know our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus, has mortally wounded him.
We are strong in Jesus, we can be bold in Jesus, and we are victorious in Jesus. But this world is still a war zone, and there are many whom God means to save from the clutches of the enemy in this age.
So be strong in the Lord, get your armor on, and be his soldier. Win souls from darkness to light by heralding the good news of a victorious Jesus.
Ryan Williams is the lead pastor of the Everett church.
