Monday 9 Nov 2009

Monday Reading: Ephesians 6:13-18
 
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:16
16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
 
Devotion:
Looking at the same verses today but focusing on verse 16 where we must take up the shield of faith. If we look back in history we find so many different kinds of shields that have been used over the years and just about all of them have a dual purpose; first to shield the bearer from whatever the enemy is launching at them and second as a weapon. Some shields may just be for show but their roots are in protection. As long as the bearer continues to hold up that shield they are protected; if they give up relying on that shield then they open themselves up to all manner of things.

Why is it called a shield of faith; not only because we have to yield it to gain from it but because we do not know what protection it offers until we can use it. When the children of Israel carried the Ark of the Covenant with them they were doing so out of faith because they believed that God would protect them – and God did exactly that. They did not know the power of God in war until they took it with them. That shield not only protected the carriers but all who were willing to believe.

Our shield of faith is a shield against all that Satan can throw at us, and believe me he is going to throw all manner of things our way! The fiery darts were darts or arrows that had some wadding wrapped around their shafts probably soaked in tar or oil and which was set alight to burn whatever it came in contact with. The purpose was not so much to aim at a person but rather to aim at houses and other things that would burn, destroying the people from the inside. Satan is going to drop all manner of temptations in our path that will tempt us away from God’s will and His way. Satan wants to destroy us from the inside because he knows that is where our weakness lies. Our protection may seem flimsy when viewed in light of what Satan is throwing, but it is a sure protection that will withstand everything – so long as we have faith to yield it. If we allow those darts to get to us then we will have a hard time trying to put them out; upholding your shield will make sure they cannot take root to start with.

Points to Ponder:
What kind of protection would you seek in battle?

Do you know how great God’s protection is?