EPHESIANS 6:10-13 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
THEME OF THE DAY: FIGHT, LOVE, AND SERVE JUST TODAY. Today’s scripture is the Apostle Paul’s introduction to the most detailed description of the spiritual battle the Christian fights and the armor the Christian is to wear. This battle is intense, up close, personal, against organized spiritual forces of evil, and requires not a piece of the armor of God, but all of it, and to be worn by a soldier committed to battle and alert to the battle. And when is this battle fought? Now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now. Today, and unless we grasp this, and live this, we will be spiritual casualties on the battlefield.
In the Apostle Paul’s introduction to spiritual warfare, he reminds us of when this battle is fought – be able to withstand in the evil day. When is the evil day. Today. Right now. If tomorrow comes, it will be the evil day. Yesterday is gone and it too was the evil day. But the Christian who will be victorious in the spiritual war we are called to fight and will be effective in living the Christian life, will do so today, and only today.
One of the chief tactics of the devil in this spiritual battle we daily fight is the tempting of Christians, and too many give into this scheme of his, to commit the sin of procrastination. And the procrastinating Christian will be the fruitless Christian, the spiritually defeated Christian, and the Christian ever so close to spiritual ruin. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon would label such a person a sluggard and gives us a vivid picture of the outcome of such a lazy person – How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man (Proverbs 6:9-11). Someone has once said these true words, “When God says ‘today’ the devil says ‘tomorrow’”. Our Lord Jesus, Himself, exhorts us to labor in the only day we have, today; We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work (John 9:4).
So, what is the application for us? The whole of the Christian life is a call to fight, love and serve under the banner of Christ. Resolve that today, only today, we are going to fight against sin and Satan. Resolve today, only today, we are going to love God’s people in deeds not words (1 John 3:18). Resolve today, only today, we are going to deny ourselves and serve the interests of Christ and others by using our time wisely for spiritual and eternal things (Ephesians 5:15-16). If we discipline ourselves to this type of spiritual resolve, empowered by God’s Spirit, we will live a life influential for Christ and that in the only day we have to fight, love, and serve – today.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to live my life as You give it – one day at a time.”
QUOTE: “We only fight the good fight, love people, and serve the Lord today for it is the only day we have been given.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim