Text: Psalm 119:81-104, Hebrews 4:12-13, Ephesians 6:10-17, Proverbs 30:5
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For 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 6:11-12 NIV
Why do we bother to memorize Scripture? If Jesus came and conquered death, is there anything else to worry about? We believe; we live as Christians; we go to heaven.
It’s not quite that simple, is it?
Our Christian lives are a constant struggle. The battle is ongoing and it won’t end until the day Jesus returns to complete the defeat of Satan. As the Reformation Study Bible notes, “The forces of darkness are defeated, but not yet harmless.”
In Ephesians, Paul instructs us on how to put on the “full armor of God,” covering ourselves with the things of God, from feet to head. In the end, we are told to “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The Bible does not need us to defend it. We need the Bible to help us stand firm in Christ.
Putting on the full armor of God is more than belief. It includes studying God’s Word, letting the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and minds as we read it, and being in prayer about having our hearts and lives changed through it. The Bible is meant to actively change us, actively change our world, and prepare us for the resistance we will meet in this Christian life.
We will fight, but we will not fight alone.
His Word is living and active, and it fights for us.
But that’s not all.
The writer of Hebrews also uses the imagery of the sword, describing God’s Word as “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This living, sacred text not only guards our hearts, it penetrates and knows them, too. Reading Scripture and meditating on it, storing it up in our hearts and minds, is not mere Christian duty. It is our privilege.
A fight is coming very soon! We have to be prepared! Hebrews 4:12 is all we need!
As I go through this devotion day by day. The word is speaking to me more and becoming more powerful. I’m truly hitting me how true God’s word is and how essential it is to follow it every second
“For the word of God is alive and active.”
Hebrew 4:12
I love that verse because it is so true!
5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him”
This one is also very very true. God and all of His words are flawless! These are my two favorites!
Maybe this is a helpful analogy: If a teacher gives you two options: either you sit in class and learn from Her or you take extra time for recess and don’t lean anything, you are not earning anything by choosing to sit with her. You are rather receiving the free gift of her knowledge and wisdom because she is being gracious.
I’d argue that making the difficult choice (by resisting temptation of evil and worldly definitions of success) to submit to the Lord is definitely an act that qualifies as “earning salvation”. Walking with Christ isn’t easy, at least isn’t always easy, so I know redemption is earned for sure.
Indeed it’s a difficult choice, but that choice does not “earn” salvation. The Bible says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” A gift is not earned; a gift is received. We are on the receiving end of God’s grace. We are called to live a life reflective of Christ, but His grace covers all sin– forever. No act can earn redemption.
You don’t resist temptation alone. That’s also the Holy Spirit working in you. If you didn’t have the Holy Spirit, you wouldn’t resist evil. So no, you do not earn salvation. It is a gift of God.
I have really enjoyed these daily devotions. And knowing struggle is something other Christians go through as well is helpful. I do have a question regarding salvation…I was saved when I was 7 years old and baptized a few months later as a 7 year old. My question is that even though I was saved as a young child, that’s ok? I only need to be saved once correct? Sometimes I feel that is not enough and I need to do more. I guess that may be part of the struggle.
Once saved, always saved! Salvation is a beautiful thing, yet it is a struggle to believe that we can do nothing to earn it– not by good works, cleanliness, wisdom, etc. We live in a world that tells us that we must earn everything. Our world says that self-reliance and independence are what can help us survive… and yet the complete opposite is true. It’s only when we give up our lives to Christ Jesus that we are true living and truly saved. Once is enough— God’s grace is enough and it covers you if you believe. Doubt and fear are of the Devil. Pursue a steadfast faith, and remember the times in your life when God was unquestionably real and living inside you. Those are the experiences that will make us solid and grounded in our faith. Again, once saved, always saved.
I’d argue that making the difficult choice (by resisting temptation of evil and worldly definitions of success) to submit to the Lord is definitely an act that qualifies as “earning salvation”. Walking with Christ isn’t easy, at least isn’t always easy, so I know redemption is earned for sure.
Giving your heart to Jesus, or being saved, is a daily thing. We need surrender our lives and and hearts to Him, and study his word every day in order to put on the armor Ephesians talks about. And so we can have strength and wisdom to face, and get through each day. I agree that it’s difficult to accept that salvation is a free gift, and not earned. But be assured that it is, and that you are saved as you give your heart to Jesus each day.
It really struck me how there is no way to control everything but there are plenty of things that I can do which set me up for success. Like (physically/practically) getting appropriately dressed and ready in the morning and having a good breakfast. I love how God has provided nourishment and armor and shoes and power and help for me to be ready for whatever comes today!
This kind of made me think of Robocop haha! How the living word can pick me apart and then build me back up stronger than before to live supernaturally.
Knowing that I’m not the only one going through a constant struggle helps me keep going.