Devotional For Men

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Ephesians 6:16, NLT

Along with the practicality of the belt of truth, the safety of the body armor of God's righteousness, and the Good News footwear, those in God's service must carry the "shield of faith." Shields made of metal, wood, and leather we can imagine, but what kind of shield is faith? As with each of the items in the equipment of the believer, its name reminds us that it is spiritual armament for spiritual warfare. A physical shield made of the finest materials known to man has little power to withstand the "fiery arrows of the devil." Since the arrows are spiritual, the shield that protects us from them must function in the same realm. Whenever believers talk about faith, it isn't the amount of faith but the object of faith that makes the biggest difference. A shield of faith in ourselves will fail. A shield of faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ will also fail. Our faith and trust is not a muscle we flex but the dependence we place on God. Any power or strength residing in our faith comes from the One in whom we trust. Other places in Scripture draw this same picture of a shield even more directly. "He [the LORD] grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity" (Proverbs 2:7). Our shield is not a metal shape with a picture of Jesus on it; our shield is Jesus. He is our protection. We are in him. The "fiery arrows of the devil" are intended to wound and destroy. In ancient times they functioned like tracer bullets, adding terror to the reality of being under fire. Knowing that the devil is our determined enemy might tend to unnerve us, or it might drive us deeper into Christ. We must never forget that though he was once "pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins" (Isaiah 53:5), Jesus now lives in victory, and Satan has been defeated. His arrows only have the effect that we give them. A veteran soldier checks his equipment frequently. How tightly are you carrying your shield of faith? Are you conscious and confident in Christ's protection?