Pastor’s Corner – August 25, 2024
Putting on the Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-20
I don’t know about you but I’ve been enjoying the DNC’s speeches all this week with messages of hope and future. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans, a particular party line that’s inspiring, but rather a focus on the message that we could do better than the division we experience; that we can be neighbors to each other however we may disagree on politics, religion, race, culture etc. It’s a message of unity and awakening to our shared sense of humanity for the common good. When I read Ephesians for this coming Sunday, I see a similar message of hope in the face of systemic oppression and evil we see in our world creating division and violence. The message to the church in Ephesus is clear; be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s power. We are engaged in a spiritual battle against evil that creates human suffering. To resist and overcome this struggle, Paul suggests that we put on the armor of God!
I suspect most of us learned this from our Sunday school days as children. We probably sang songs and drew, colored, cut pieces of armor to put them on too. (I have a little surprise gift for all of you when you show up in worship to take with you to remember the message). Stand firm Paul says, “fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take a shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench 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.” Then he admonishes his church to pray, keep alert and finally also to pray for him to preach the mystery of the gospel with boldness!
It’s time to put on the armor of God so that we may stand firm, strong in God’s power. We are ambassadors of God in the world with the message of peace. You don’t want to miss this Sunday. Come let us worship God and know to whom we belong, and remember who we are as God’s children. Thanks be to God!
As we pray for one another, don’t forget to pray for the preacher; that he speaks the truth to power and the great mystery of faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pastor Dae