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I’ve always loved movies about swordsmen – “Zorro”, “The Count of Monte Cristo”, “The Three Musketeers”. In these films swashbuckling heroes step boldly into the fray, confident in their skill with the blade, easily subduing their foes, gallantly saving the day. I can watch these movies over-and-over and never get tired of them.

As a kid I wanted to be Zorro, dressed in black, going out into the neighborhood to do good deeds. However, we lived in the country, so there weren’t a lot of fair maidens to rescue, and my parents would never let me have a sword anyway.

In Ephesians Paul calls on us to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (6:17 NLT). Up until this point, the armor we’ve been told to wear has been primarily defensive in nature, given “so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.” (v. 13). But the sword is an offensive weapon. In this verse God is calling us to take the battle to the enemy, not to destroy and maim, but to set the captives free.

This is a powerful weapon God has put in our hands. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

God is calling us to take the offensive, to take the battle to the enemy. With the sword of the Spirit we are “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke…” (Isaiah 58:6 NIV).

We need not be afraid to join the battle, because in 1 John 5:4 we are promised “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”. Clad in the Armor of God and with the sword of the Spirit in our hand, we can step boldly into the fray, knowing, with God on our side, no power will be able to stand against us.

This Sabbath, and in this coming week, lift high the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, and join the battle, knowing this – with Jesus leading the way, victory is yours.

Everytime I have a patient come in following a bicycle accident the first question I ask them is, “Were you wearing a helmet?” The answer to that question determines, to a large extent, how concerned I am about a traumatic brain injury. Whatever their answer, I’m still going to do a full neurological work-up, but if a helmet was used I am less concerned about a serious concussion then I would be otherwise.

The brain, or the mind, is the center of our being, controlling everything we do. It makes us who we are and determines the course we take in life, the decisions we make. Because of this it is also Satan’s special target because he knows if he can influence our thoughts, he can change the whole direction of our lives and not in a good way. That is why Paul reminds us to “Put on salvation as your helmet…” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT). In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 he describes this helmet as “the confidence in our salvation.”

It is this “confidence in our salvation” which will protect our minds when the devil attacks, when he reminds us of our unworthiness, our sin, stoking the fires of guilt, telling us there is no hope for us. However, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then your mind will be protected from Satan’s attacks, because you have confidence in your salvation.

This cannot be a one time event, however. Satan does not give up that easy. Just like you should put on your bike helmet every time before you ride, you must daily accept Jesus as your Savior, wearing as your helmet the confidence of your salvation, so you will be prepared and protected when Satan attacks – and he will attack.

There’s an old saying that goes, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Protect yours today with the helmet of salvation, fortifying it by studying God’s Word and by prayer. If you do this, you can move forward with confidence, knowing “God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.” (1 Peter 1:5).

God bless and have a safe and happy day!

In my work as a physician assistant I frequently have to don PPE, personal protective equipment. When I’m dealing with an open wound or someone with a respiratory illness, such as COVID or RSV, I have to put on a mask and, sometimes, eye protection, gloves, and a gown to protect myself from exposure to potential disease carrying body fluids.

In our daily lives we are constantly being exposed to the deadly virus called sin which has infested our planet and all its inhabitants, bringing death, destruction, and untold misery. Every moment of every day the enemy throws his flaming darts of temptation our way, seeking to reinfect God’s children with this virus, so he can once again claim them as his own.

To prevent this from happening we must daily don our spiritual PPE, the armor of God, including “the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV).

Through faith we can defeat giants, close the mouths of lions, walk through fire, stand up in the face of persecution and even raise the dead. By faith we can resist temptation, have peace in the midst of turmoil, find joy in even the darkest hour, and stay true to God when all those around us turn away. “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NIV)

But the shield of faith is not fashioned by men. No, this faith that “can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” was forged by Christ Himself, tempered by the fire of Calvary. And He offers it freely to all who will follow Him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8).

Sometimes it seems impossible to avoid reinfection by the virus of sin. After all, it is all around us. But “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Today, don your PPE, including the shield of faith and go out to share the Good News that there is a cure for sin and His name is Jesus.

What is the key piece of equipment a soldier needs to be successful? His weapons? His armor? No, it is something far more basic – a pair of well-fitting shoes.

Edward L. Munson, in his book “The Soldier’s Foot and the Military Shoe” studied the importance of footwear on the success or failure of a soldier to do his duty. He found that “the soldier whose badly shod feet are unable to carry him into battle fails at the critical moment of the purpose for which he was trained and instead of being an added strength becomes an encumbrance.” (p. 2).

If good shoes are the key to success for a soldier in an earthly army, how much more so for a soldier in the army of Heaven. That’s why Paul tells us, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” (Ephesians 6:15 NLT).

The quality of a pair of shoes has a lot to do with the materials that go into them. As nice as imitation leather may look, it doesn’t hold up to the ardors of marching like real leather does. The same is true when it comes to our spiritual footwear.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV). It is only when our feet are shod with the peace that comes from knowing the Good News that we will be fully prepared to stand firm when the battles of life rage around us. It is only with this peace that we will be able to march forward boldly in spreading the Good News, when it would be easier to just run away.

This morning, before you put on your Air Jordan’s or Converse All-Stars, be sure to “put on the peace that comes from the Good News…” Don’t step out the door without giving Jesus first place in your life. If you do this then “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). You can then march forward into life’s battle with confidence, without fear, knowing Jesus is leading the way.

Teenage boys come up with some crazy ideas. When Jeff (names have been changed to protect the not so innocent) learned he needed to do a research project for his physics class, he immediately thought of paintball. The property where they lived was heavily wooded and one of their favorite activities was to play paintball there. They donned body armor and helmets and disappeared in different directions. Soon the woods filled with laughter (and occasional shouts of pain) as ambushes were sprung and paintballs flew.

Jeff convinced his teacher to let him do his project on the effectiveness of different paintball body armor. He would fire paintballs at his brother, John, who was wearing different types of armor, while videotaping it all. Then he’d analyze the effectiveness of the different materials.

To get a control baseline, however, he convinced John to let him shoot him in the back with just a T-shirt on. John was a pretty good sport, but his shouts could be heard all over the property after the first paintball hit. Let’s just say, the bruise was quite impressive. Jeff got an “A” on the project, by the way.

The second piece of the Armor of God is “the breastplate of righteousness…” (Ephesians 6:14 NIV). A breastplate is armor that protects the body’s vital organs, particularly the heart. Without this body armor we are doomed in our battle with the enemy. This is why Proverbs 4:23 warns us to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

This “breastplate of righteousness” is not created with our own good deeds for “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6). Our own righteousness offers no protection at all. The only breastplate which can truly protect our hearts is the one created in the forge of Calvary, Christ’s righteousness, “the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:9).

Today, you will face an enemy that has you totally outclassed. Don’t go into the battle half-dressed. Make sure to put on all your armor, including the breastplate of righteousness, before you head out the door. Remember, “Above all else, guard your heart…”

One of things I enjoy most about losing weight is needing to tighten my belt another notch. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I have to use the next hole down in order to keep my pants up. So far I haven’t needed to go shopping for new pants, but I may need to get a smaller belt size soon.

Just like a belt holds my pants up, so the Truth is what holds our faith together, especially when the world is falling down around us. That is why the first piece of the armor of God Paul tells us to put on is “the belt of truth…” (Ephesians 6:14 NLT).

Some may ask, like Pontius Pilate, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). King David provides the answer in Psalm 119:160, where he says, “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.” Jesus Himself endorsed this when He prayed, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

The truth, as found in God’s Word, is the belt that holds the rest of God’s armor together. If we do not put it on daily we risk being “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching…influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:14). This was why the people of Berea were commended because they “searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” (Acts 17:11).

It is not enough to listen to a preacher or someone else telling us “the truth.” That’s a good way to be led astray and for our faith to fall apart. Day by day, we must search the Scriptures for ourselves and “Stand [our] ground, putting on the belt of truth…” (Ephesians 6:14).

How about you? Did you put on your belt today?

Today is the first Sunday of the 2023-2024 NFL season. Football fans all over the nation and the world can hardly wait for kickoff. New big screen TV’s are mounted on living room walls, barbecues are warmed up and cupboards are well-stocked with pretzels, chips, dips and all the other necessities for fan survival as they cheer on their favorite teams (Go Bills!).

Sunday football is a sacred tradition in many American homes. Every play is analyzed, every hit rated, every touchdown cheered. We admire the players and coaches for their determination and their sacrifice, living vicariously through them as they battle up and down the field.

Football is an exciting sport, but it is also a dangerous one. Every hit takes a toll on the players’ bodies and they know they are each just one step or one hit away from a career-ending injury. Millions of dollars has gone into development of the equipment players wear to protect themselves from serious injury.

No NFL player in their right mind would ever consider stepping onto the field without their helmets, pads and other protective equipment on. To do so would be to invite serious injury. Yet so often you and I try to play the game of life without the “full armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).

Football players battle against opposing teams made up of human beings with similar strengths and weaknesses to their own. Usually they are fairly evenly matched. That is not the case in the game of life. No, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12).

In this struggle we are totally outmatched, but we are not alone. Jesus, promises, ““Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). He “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). He understands the struggles we face, because He has gone through them Himself. Through faith in Him you may have victory, if you will daily “Put on the full armor of God.”

Each piece of that armor is essential, just as each piece of protective gear is necessary to the football player. Over the next several days we will consider the different pieces of that armor and their importance. Until then, know this, with Christ victory is already ours. So, have a wonderful day and “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10).

This last week my daughter, Rishana, made her niece a new sweater. It is a beautiful light blue, with off-white buttons and a hood. Bexlie loves it and wants to wear it everywhere. If you ask her who made it for her she says, “Tata!”, which is what she calls Rishana.
For Tata Rishana, making the sweater was a labor of love. Every movement of her crochet hook was done out of love for her little niece. She wanted to create something special for this little girl who has worked her way into all our hearts. Her handiwork was an expression of how much Bexlie means to her.
Paul says, in Ephesians, that I am “God’s handiwork” (Ephesians 2:10a NIV). In fact, Psalm 139:13 says that God “created my inmost being; [He] knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
I am God’s labor of love and so are you. We are each a unique gift God has given to the world, “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10b).
Today, when the devil whispers in your ear that you’re nothing special, remind Him you are a child of God, His handiwork. You were created for a reason, to show God’s love to the world. Then get out there and do the work God made you to do, letting “your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

School started up again a little while ago and on our street I see kids waiting for the bus each morning. Some look excited about it, while others look like they’d rather be doing anything else. A lot of their attitude can be traced back to their teachers. You can usually tell which kids have teachers who feel called to teach and those whose instructors view it as just a job.

Teachers, for the most part, are amazing people. I go on my morning walks around 6 o’clock and my route leads me by Walla Walla Valley Academy and Rogers Elementary. It’s not unusual to see cars in the parking lot at that early hour and lights on in the classrooms as teachers prepare for another day of sharing their knowledge and God’s love with their students. Now that’s dedication!

I’ve had some amazing teachers who’ve made an incredible difference in my life. Mrs. Marvin, my 3rd grade teacher; Jim Henderson, Jerry and Carol Whitehurst, at Kingsbury Jr. Academy; and John Thomas at Union Springs Academy. There were many others, but these stand out in my mind. I credit much of my own successes to their caring and dedicated attitude and their ability to bring out the best in me, seeing past my shy, awkward exterior to the potential within.

Teaching is a calling, but not just for professional educators. We each are called to teach. Just before He ascended to heaven Jesus commissioned His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).

We are each called to teach others about Jesus, that “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). We are to tell of His love and sacrifice for us and of His soon coming to take us home.

You too are a teacher and each day, by the words you say and the things you do (or don’t do) you are teaching others lessons for good or bad. That’s an awesome responsibility. Make sure to ask the Master Teacher to guide you, because the lessons people learn for you today may well make a difference for them for eternity.

What will your students learn from you today?