Ephesians 6:4 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Six Super Fashion Musts for the Well-Dressed Soul
When I have to go to an event, at some point the question arises, “what should I wear?” In general, by temperament, I’m simply not concerned with such questions-if you’re comfortable, protected from the elements, and not a distraction because of shabbiness or flamboyance, it really doesn’t matter. But clothing is an important part of our everyday lives, partly because it helps define who we are. Even people like me, who don’t care much about fashion, beyond comfort, are making a statement by what they choose to wear, or to avoid wearing. And different events require different clothes. If I go to sing at a wedding dressed the same as I would for a workout, I may not be allowed to participate in the wedding. If I go to give a keynote speech dressed more like a hippie than a CEO, the audience may be distracted; the organizers may look for a last minute replacement. I have to think about what I’m going to wear, even if, by nature, I don’t want to. Paul recommends we make a shift from thinking of our physical clothing to our spiritual clothing. Since we are in a spiritual battle we have to always be ready with our battle clothes. Following is a list of accoutrements for the spiritual warrior-think of it as a warrior’s must-have items for walking the ramp of the spiritual fashion show:
The Belt of Truth
The belt holds up the swords and provides a place to hang your lower garment if you have to run quickly. The sword is the only offensive weapon Paul mentions. It’s the word of God-we’ll talk more about that below. Imagine I quote verses from the Bible, constantly try to sound spiritual, and lie to you about everything else. The Bible quotes won’t hold up if I live a life of lies. You will be unlikely to want to hear anything I have to say if you think of me as a perennial prevaricator. Without the belt you have no sword. Without the sword you, and the whole army, are better off if you’re not in the fight.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate protects the heart. Interesting the Proverbs teach “above all things, guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). For a discussion of how right-ness protects the heart and un-right-ness contorts it, please see Day 21, Ephesians 5:3, and Day 23, Ephesians 5:8-14. It is no accident that rightness and the heart are associated. If we are going to be effective spiritual warriors we have to have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4). We must guard our hearts.
Good News Footwear
Have you ever seen beautiful feet? I think most of us are a bit embarrassed by our feet. But the Bible teaches some feet are beautiful. The Prophet Isaiah said it like this
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
I think Paul has this prophecy in mind. Think of those Hindi films where the couple falls in love and are transported immediately and miraculously to a mountaintop to sing silly songs to each other and dance. Now, imagine, instead of the couple gyrating to the rhythm of the tabla and strings, you have an image of a person on that same mountain simply telling Good News; let’s make it more appealing-singing good news. And instead of the camera focusing on the actress’ sari and hair blowing in the wind, the camera angle shifts and reveals the feet & toes of the Singer.
Ok, maybe an image even sillier than the Hindi film. But this is the idea. The person who tells you good news, instead of the constant barrage of bad news, is beautiful-so beautiful that even his or her feet are objects of beauty and veneration. John the Baptist said he wasn’t even worthy to loose the latchet of Jesus’ sandals. To him, Jesus was too terrible and beautiful to even touch the shoes that touched His feet. You want to be so beautiful that people even idolize your feet? Tell good news.
The Shield of Faith
A few things about shields.
1. Roman shields were really big, and could be fitted with leather pouches engorged with water. When burning arrows hit they would be extinguished. The word Paul uses for arrows is a general term for any sharp thing that can be thrown at you. The evil one may throw a lot at you, some sharp things that could burn you, but they just glance off or are absorbed into ineffectual oblivion if you have faith.
2. Roman shields were most effective when used in concert. Each shield could be linked to that of an adjacent soldier. They could be linked round, as well as above, making a roof and walls around a moving pack of warriors. They called this the turtle. It was a powerful formation difficult to attack. We are strongest when join our faith with that of others. For this reason, the Bible encourages us not to neglect gathering together with believers, and so much more so as we see the end of human history approaching.
The Helmet of Salvation
The head is vulnerable. A good strike to the jaw can twist the neck and cause an involuntary unconsciousness, a knockout punch. A more violent strike to the head can kill. Protection for the head is essential for survival. You have to keep your head right. When I exercise I like to listen to motivating music. On my playlist there is one song called ‘Get Your Head in the Game’. If you’re going to win a game, you have to have your mind on only one thing-your game. Where is your head? We can get our minds on so many things. Paul told the Romans “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may test what is God’s good and acceptable and perfect will”. We can only win in spiritual battles when our mind is right-in the game-focused on our salvation. Paul told the Philippian church they needed to work out their salvation. This is an important part of winning in our spiritual battles, we have to have a clear, protected, strong mind.
The Sword of the Spirit (the word of God)
The Roman soldier had two swords, the big one and the little one. The big one could keep an opponent at a distance. The little one was for in-close fighting, and the Romans used both swords with lethal skill. Here, Paul refers to the little sword. A small sword has many advantages, it can be concealed till needed. Maybe Paul had the Song in mind-“Thy word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). God's word needs to be inside so it is available for us to use at a moment’s notice-always ready to destroy evil and vanquish darkness. Today, with so many tools, we have no excuse for not having the Lord’s word in our hearts. I listen daily to the word through the online free software Youversion from https://www.bible.com/ , or by downloading audio books from YouTube. YouVersion splits the bible into daily doses based on your needs and lifestyle. In the past few years I’ve read/listened through the Bible several times. It gives a very different perspective from the kind of daily devotion you're reading now, with focus on just a few verses at a time. I think we need both if the Sword is going to be always at the ready for battle.
So, Those are the Six Super-Fashion Musts for you spiritual warrior fashionistas. Get dressed and ready for the event of a lifetime. Gear up. Be ready. Today is the day of battle, the day of display. Put on your best and stand there for everyone to see. You’ll be glorious.
Prayer for Today
Father,
Without You, I’m exposed, naked, and vulnerable to attack. Clothe me with Your Spirit. Protect me with Your love. Surround me with Your glory. Awaken my soul for battle. Enable me to stand against the onslaught. Release through me a blitzkrieg of Your Word. Let my defense be ever ready and my attack be spot on.
Make me strong.
In the name of the Spiritual Warrior who died in the battle to set me free
Amen
