 |
| What my child will do with duct tape! |
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).
God does not expect us to tackle the tough stuff ill equipped any more than a parent should send their child off to school wearing shorts and a hoodie during a blizzard. If you are one of those children unwilling to observe the sage advice of moms everywhere, heed the Word from the Great Physician...
“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).
Simply, skip the Kleenex and prescriptions. Listen to your mother!
Okay, back to my original point.
Wearing the right gear protects us from seen and unseen elements. Sunscreen blocks sensitive skin from damaging rays. Shoes or sandals buffers our feet from sharp objects. And, dare I say, a diaper more than comes in handy on a baby during incontinent moments. Mommies, do I hear an AMEN!
So if wearing the right stuff protects, where is the harm in sporting minimal coverage or not wearing the right gear? The harm lies festered in what we leave exposed. Though the sun’s purpose is to shine, it is no respecter of scantily clad, body parts. Those parts will blister and deeply burn. A sandy beach or unkempt boardwalk may invite your bare feet for a long stroll, but broken glass, seashell chards or jagged pine splinters will deeply embed themselves in uncovered toes and heels. The right gear protects you from the dangers you do not see. From a spiritual standpoint, we learn in the waiting…
“…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).
Puts an interesting twist on the whole “dress for success” concept, does it not? In my struggles through life, I had my share of spiritual “fashion failures.” I believed I controlled my own destiny. I believed I could live life my way. I believed that if I did all the right things and stayed out of trouble, only good things would follow. I wore the whole ensemble marked with a sinner’s price tag. Rags cut from the fabric of lost dreams, abusive lovers and shameful choices. My sinfulness exposed my garments for what they truly were – tattered, torn and unfit for a King’s daughter to wear.
Have you ever own or worn frayed rags you once thought covered well? If so, do you still hang onto those threadbare items? Are they stored somewhere in your heart’s closet out of guilt, remorse, regret or unforgiveness? You know it did not cover much on you then. Why believe it will cover much of anything on you now. In the waiting, we get to trade in the spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise. Fully covered, fully adorned, none exposed. Learn to…
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:13-18).
No comments:
Post a Comment