Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
When cleaning my grandfather’s home, my family and I came across a pair of wooden shoes that he had carved for himself as a young man in Norway. Undoubtedly many such pairs of shoes could be found across the world, carved by different hands in different cultures. But the connection between these shoes and my grandfather set them apart for us, and we’ve kept them to this day.
When St. Paul speaks of “the armor of God,” he speaks about something similar. The armor of God (the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the readiness of the gospel, etc.) is not simply armor that God has given us; it is armor that He wore Himself! He wore it when He came to this earth to preach good news, die, and rise again. He clothed Himself in truth, righteousness, peace, and the Spirit, and now we have inherited this armor and may wear it also.
Taking up that armor confirms for us our intimate union with Jesus. Defended by His truth, wielding His word, and covered by prayer in His name, we are assured all the more that He is ours, and we are His, as sure as the shoes on our feet.
LET US PRAY: Lord of great might: I cannot fill Your shoes or measure up to Your stature. Yet You have kindly honored me by numbering me among Your ranks and calling me to serve Your kingdom. Grant that I may do so faithfully and to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Pr. Steven K. Gjerde
Zion, Wausau
