Eph 6:15-16 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (16) In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Paul’s appeal to the saints at Ephesus in these final few verses in the book of Ephesians are pointing to the very thing he started with in the beginning and throughout. The mystery of Christ in us. The mystery of the Gospel. He shares the weapons of warfare we are to use and turns it right back to the purpose of these things is not only for us, but for us to be in such a place that we can advance the gospel message.

We are to have shoes for our feet that prepare us to share the gospel of peace. Isaiah writes in chapter 52, “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news.” The feet are an intrigal part to sharing the gospel of peace. We need to be prepared at all times to be a witness for Christ. “Quick on your feet” when the enemy tries to trip you up.

Next, when it comes to faith, we are to have it so greatly in our life it is like a shield. One of the most amazing movie scenes I have seen was in the movie “Gladiator.” There is a scene where Russel Crow looks over to the head of the archers and says, “At my signal, unleash hell.” Upon the signal of the commander the archers fired hundreds of flaming arrows into the air at the enemy striking them time and time again. The few who were prepared with their shields were able to withstand the fiery arrows and avoid the sure and sudden death that would have came. Whenever I read these passages in Ephesians, I imagine that scene. The devil isn’t trying to throw a little dart with a flicker on the end, he is desiring to come at us with full force and on the word of his voice the spiritual enemy will send hundreds of flaming arrows at us one after the other after the other…

But have no fear! The shield of faith we have is our protection from the evil one. God is faithful to not only put a leash on the devil, but to protect us from his flaming arrows. Paul instructs us to have faith in all circumstances. Even though it may not seem like we are going to get through the next big challenge, God’s shield of protection will never let us down. And if an arrow does get through, we still trust that it isn’t a surprise to the Lord. He will sometimes allow an arrow or two to penetrate the shield as a test of our faith.

Recently I have been challenged in several areas and wondered what the Lord was thinking. I had my plans, I prepared, prayed, and planned everything out and it didn’t work out how I had intended. Not only that I began to have some physical problems and some challenges with other people and other things as well… In it all I was reminded by the Lord that the arrows get through only by His permission and they are to bring me back to my knees and reliance on Him. When I get to the place where my faith is in my own abilities and plans, the Lord will remind me that the shield of faith I need to carry is the faith in His provision and plans and not my own.

The enemy, at the command of the devil, wants to overwhelm us with fiery darts. Through faith in Christ and the readiness given by the Gospel, we are able to withstand the attacks and hopefully defeat the devil before he ever gets one dart out of his quiver.

Have a blessed day!
Keith