“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6.10-11
I find it interesting that just after Paul talks about “right relationships,” fathers and children, slaves and masters, children and parents, that he moves straight in to this statement about being strong in the Lord, in his mighty power, and to put on the full armor of God.
Now it could just be a coincidence. Maybe it just so happened in Paul’s train of thought, and with the influence of the Holy Spirit, that Paul thought of families, relationships, and then WATCH OUT FOR THE DEVIL! Or, it could be that most often, the devil sneaks in to these close relationships and often drives a wedge between us and God — God and others.
Could it be, and I am just speculating, that the Spirit intended these two thoughts to be conjoined? Could it be that in order to maintain happy, healthy and holy relationships with those closest to us that we must turn to God, put on his armor, and be strong in the Lord? I think it is more than a coincidence, I think it is a mandate.
Lord knows that families often have issues! I have a loving family and we are far from perfect. And I speak to others who have dysfunctional relationships. Thankfully, I’ve experienced great health in my family. But others are not so lucky. Often families find themselves at odds with each other over sometimes trivial matters. Could it be that the devil knows how to disrupt families? Could it be that Satan attacks us when we don’t put on spiritual armor and our weakness could be familia relationships?
Let’s turn over our families today to the Lord. Let’s pray for our children, siblings, parents, relatives. Let’s ask God to put a shield of protection around them so that our relationship with God might be even better. Let us not allow any wedge of division to get between us and those we are related. For then you will be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
“O Lord God, I love you. I praise you. I thank you for loving me and for allowing me to have a family that loves and fears your name. Come now, Eternal Father, call us to repentance, to holiness and to faith. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might be all you have called us to be. By your grace and for your glory.” Amen