Getting God’s Gear On

This week our pastors wife left me in charge to lead the evening bible study.  OH NO!  REALLY! WAS THAT WISE?  I’ll have you know the church is still standing. No one ran from the room in tears or confused over the doctrine of ‘Milk Chocolate is the Key to True Joy.’  Seriously.  It is the key to true joy. Just kidding.

We are studying the Armor of God found in Ephesians 6 and currently looking at the Helmet of Salvation.  Following our viewing of the DVD teaching series, I took the liberty to use a visual aide in my wrap up and challenge to the ladies.  Stepping forward with a … well… hm… one might say, BLINGED out bike helmet. Sitting awkwardly on my head, one in which is WAY to big for me and kept sliding to one side.  Helmet teetering, I continued to share with the gals about ‘ill-fitting’ gear. Taking us to 1 Samuel 17, just prior to the show down between David and the Giant Goliath.  King Saul tries to get young David to wear his armor, his helmet, but it doesn’t fit and David is not used to it. Strapping on Saul’s sword, David tried to walk around, but it was too cumbersome.  David told Saul, “I cannot go in these”  while taking the gear off.  Saul’s armor was uncomfortable, unfamiliar and unusable. THAT’S what we get for trying to ‘fit into another’s garments.”  (THAT is another study in itself)

We looked at God’s armor in Isaiah 59:15-16 “He (God) saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene … He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head…”   Paul says back in his letter to the Ephesians, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, Put on the full armor OF GOD, so that you can stand against the devils schemes.”  (v 11, emphasis mine)

The armor we put on is God’s, (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit) unlike Saul’s unfitting armor, God’s armor is ‘One size fits all’, a PERFECT fit for the believer. We HAVE to remember the armor is HIS, not ours. It is to be worn ‘as purchased’ (by the blood) and just as ‘recieved’ by us.  We as women tend to do what with our wardrobe? BLING BABY! We alter, embellish and want to accessorize.  I asked the gals to think of our walk with God as I read the definitions of the changes we attempt to make. Embellish is to make something more attractive by adding details or features. When accessorizing we add additional items to make it more useful and complete. Altering is modifying or adjusting for a better fit.

Isn’t this true?  We do it!  We do these to ‘personalize’ our stuff, personalize us. Allowing OUR character to come through. We do this in the Kingdom as well, we add and decorate until we feel comfortable. Make adjustments and perhaps add some shiny bling as a distraction to help us cover our insecurities (metaphorically speaking)  We color and mask to hide our true selves. Don’t get me wrong God wants – even invites us, wanting our character and personalities to shine through to help share His message. Yet, there are things that are HIS and His alone, we take and use as is.  The armor of God is one, there is NO embellishing, accessorizing or altering needed, I would even say ‘allowed’ to the prescribed gear.  We don’t need to make God’s armor more attractive, slapping on some decals. Nothing needs to be added, it IS complete. It is HIS truth, HIS righteousness, HIS gospel of peace, our faith in HIM, HIS salvation offered and HIS word. It is God’s stuff, we don’t mess with it.  Often if we alter something it’s ‘use’ (or purpose) is changed as well.  Folks we’d mess it up!   Paul is very clear, ‘Take up the FULL armor of God!” Nothing is needed to accessorize, it is complete. (Slide helmet back in place)  There is an ugly-icky EVIL enemy that wants nothing more then to kill us, steal from us and destroy us. GOD’s armor protects (as is)

As we put on and wear God stuff, may we remember it is HIM we wear not us. It is already most attractive, useful and complete. Fitting just right.  Gear up!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)