Reading in the latter part of Ephesians 6 this morning . . . considering again that I’m in a wrestling match . . . commanded again to “be strong in the Lord” and “to stand” . . . reflecting again on “the whole armor of God” . . . impressed again concerning the paramount importance of being able to maneuver “the shield of faith.”

” . . . above all, taking the shield of faith with which you are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Eph. 6:16)

You know, I guess that a “shield of faith” doesn’t really do much good if we don’t first recognize that we are in a battle . . . that we, in fact, “wrestle” . . . that we struggle . . . that we combat . . . and that, ultimately, it is not against flesh and blood, but against a well organized host of wickedness . . . against the wiles of the devil himself (6:11b-12). It’s this recognition that takes those things that we do out of “discipline mode” and “obedience mode” and shifts them to being acts of “survival” . . . preparing ourselves with truth . . . putting on righteousness . . . firm footing established on the gospel . . . word of God at the ready.

How can morning devo’s (or evening devo’s) be a struggle if they really are a matter of survival? Righteousness isn’t about “having no fun” obedience, it’s a matter of surrounded by warfare protection. I’ve said before that the only thing more dangerous than walking through a minefield is not knowing you’re walking through a minefield . . . or worse yet, not believing you’re in a minefield and determining to stomp around in your ignorance and arrogance. I’m reminded this morning . . . I’m walking in a minefield . . . an enemy about me who is a “roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8). I’m to take up the whole armor of God . . . “above all, taking the shield of faith.”

Faith . . . Forsaking All I Trust Him . . . it was the vehicle through which I was saved (Eph. 2:8) . . . the basis upon which righteousness was imputed (Rom. 3:22) . . . and it is the material which constitutes my greatest defensive weapon as the enemy seeks to trip me up and put me off and take me down. It’s not what I can know, or reason, or understand, or see, or touch, of control . . . it’s what I believe. When all is said and down, as long as I’m walking this pilgrim’s walk, I walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7) . . . time and time again I need to “trust in the Lord with all my heart . . . lean not to my own understanding . . . in all my ways acknowledge Him . . . believing that He will direct my paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

And when, by my determination and God’s grace, faith is exercised . . . the shield moved to the place or circumstance needing to be protected . . . Paul says that it will “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Not just deflect . . . not just hold at bay . . . but quench . . . extinguish . . . snuff out . . . douse. The fiery dart is rendered inoperative . . . it’s flame put out . . . it’s danger destroyed. That, is the power and effectiveness of the shield of faith. And it’s not just that it can have this affect on “some” of the wicked one’s fiery darts. No, the shield of faith, wielded in the power of the Spirit, stops all the enemies pointed attacks.

Do I believe that? If I don’t, I’ll leave the shield on the ground, never thinking to raise it up in defense. But if I do . . . if I have “faith in faith” then I will seek to learn to use that all protecting wall of protection effectively . . . and I will choose to use it without hesitation . . . believing that if God is for me, who can be against me . . . believing that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world . . . believing that God is sovereign and truly controls all things . . . believing the promises of God . . . trusting in the care of God.

Faith in faith . . . taking up the shield . . . believing it is sufficient to repel any and all attacks of the enemy . . . that’s what I believe . . . Lord, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24) . . . for Your glory . . . amen!