Inspired by . . . beetles and zebras

Inspired by . . . beetles and zebras

 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:11

 

  Ironclad Beetle – BZieman_FrenchToastTexture

 

Ephesians 6, verse 12 and the ensuing verses are some of my favorite in all of scripture. Paul's words here could not be more timely to us today.

Think about all the people you brushed paths with this week who left you shaking your head, or worse, left you feeling battered and bruised by their words or actions. Then consider this:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12

 

This helps to give us perspective, doesn't it? It gives us a starting point from which to be more compassionate and to extend grace, even to those who wrong us.

Although Paul speaks of warfare and even calls us soldiers in 2 Timothy, it's important to remember that although we wrestle against spiritual wickedness, we do not engage in all out battle. It is Christ Who fought for us.

Our enemy has been defeated. The battle is won. It is finished, and was finished by Christ's work on the cross.

 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corin 15:55-58

 

What Paul gives us here in Ephesians 6 is instructions on how to STAND.

 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:13

 

We are to be like the little Ironclad beetle, who is of no threat to anything except the lichens growing on the side of the trees.

 

BZieman_SapphireDust

 

Harmless, and yet God has given him an extremely hard exoskeleton. God has done the same for us. Our exoskeleton, if you will, is our FAITH.

 

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:16

 

Ephesians 6 is not the only place where Paul plays the role of a fashion guru. In Colossians 3, verse 12, he tells us what garments are suitable for God's chosen people.

 

Put on, then, garments that suit God's chosen and beloved people: compassion,

kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Col 3:12

 

After reading Lyli's inspiring post  a couple of weeks ago, I've hung a pair of zebra earrings on the lamp shade in my bedroom.

 

 

Every morning when I turn on my lamp they click together, reminding that it is not just the outer garments of clothing that I need to put on that day. As a child of God, a representative of Christ, I need to remember to put on the garments described in Colossians 3, verse 12 and following.

And when my path crosses those who are being used as instruments of wickedness in this world, rather than instruments of grace, I need to remember that I wear an armour that protects me against their fiery darts.

Proper use of the armour insures I'll be able to respond in peace.

 

Shalom,



 

 

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