Today's Verse: Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)

14 Stand therefore, rhaving fastened on the belt of truth, and shaving put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, tas shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

r 1 Pet. 1:13; [Isa. 11:5]; See Luke 12:35
s Isa. 59:17; 1 Thess. 5:8; [Isa. 61:10; 2 Cor. 6:7]
t Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15; [Ex. 12:11]

The Teacher's Commentary reminds us that Paul concluded his Epistle to the Ephesians by reminding them of Satan's active struggle against God and our part in it. Satan tries to use his power to stand between us and God. His tactics include bringing dissension and corruption into the family. God, on the other hand, gives us tools to withstand Satan's attacks.

• The belt of truth means that we are open and honest with each other.
• The breastplate of righteousness means that we shun immorality of any sort.
• Our feet being fitted with the Gospel of peace means that we are grounded in the Gospel and that grounding allows us reconciliation with God, who grants us His peace, which, through the Holy Spirit, holds us together in unity.

Today's Comments: What has happened to the Episcopal Church illustrates what happens when we fail to stand against the devil using the tools that God has given to us. As I write, I am sure that Satan is using his power to stand between us and God by bringing dissension and corruption into the family through the leaders of the church.

• We are no longer open and honest with each other. Schism and heresy divide the church, and instead of working out problems among its own members, the church leaders, in defiance of scripture, seek remedy in the courts instead of in God.
• Sexual immorality runs rampant, not only in the members but in the leaders, while they ignore everything that the Bible says about the sins of homosexual behavior.
• The Episcopal Church is no longer grounded in the Gospel. Instead, justice without love is preached, and those who preach it seek to minimize or even remove those who disagree with them. Thus, we can no longer have the Peace of God which leads to unity.

But for those people who would suggest that the solution is no denomination, whatsoever, I suggest that their heresy is just as great. There is no such thing as "your church" or "my church." The devil is just as capable of using that to keep us apart, as well. He does not want Christians to unite, in any way, shape, or form. And so, we must find a way to put aside our differences, learn to love one another, love to learn from one another, and once more become grounded in the Gospel so that at last, we can put on the armor of God and stand firm against the devil.

Hymn of the Day:

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, ARISE
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

Soldiers of Christ, arise
and put your armor on,
strong in the strength which God supplies
thru His eternal Son;
strong in the Lord of hosts
and in His mighty pow’r:
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
is more than conqueror.

Stand then in His great might,
with all His strength endued,
and take, to arm you for the fight,
the panoply of God;
that having all things done,
and all your conflicts past,
ye may o’ercome thru Christ alone
and stand entire at last.

Leave no unguarded place,
no weakness of the soul;
take ev’ry virtue, ev’ry grace,
and fortify the whole.
From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle and fight and pray;
tread all the pow’rs of darkness down
and win the well-fought day.

Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 317