Devotional For Men

Tuesday April 23, 2013

Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11, NLT

Something happens in a boy's life when a coach pulls him aside in the hallway at school and says, "That game next Friday? I want you to suit up." Do coaches practice that line in front of a mirror? Do they know the effects it produces? Perhaps you remember the experience. Spirit soars, terror flows, hopes rise, and a young man wonders if he will be able to live up to the opportunity presented by those two words--suit up! By the time Paul finished his letter to the Ephesians, he had packed a lifetime of godly wisdom and truth into five-plus chapters. He had repeatedly challenged them to walk through the door of opportunity opened before them. At the beginning of chapter 4, following an intense section of theological truth, Paul wrote, "I . . . beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God" (4:1). As we read the final chapter of Ephesians, we need to hear God's voice echoing in our lives, "It's time for you to suit up." This challenge has to ring especially true for men. Most of us don't do well with vague invitations. We seldom volunteer based on suggestions. We want to be called out. We want a reason, a cause, and a grand purpose for which we can pour out our lives. The invitation to "suit up" represents someone who knows us deciding to depend on us. There's implied honor in such an order. There's even more honor in the command to "put on all of God's armor." Whether we are as familiar with the armor of God as a veteran football player is with his equipment, or whether we're that kid suiting up for the first time, each piece of armor has a purpose. But for now, it's crucial to see the big picture. God gives us the equipment to "stand firm against all strategies of the devil." Life may seem like a game at times, but it is a deadly and eternal game--a war. God gives us daily what we need to stand with him. How much armor are you wearing now?