Friday, January 19, 2018

The Glow From The Armor

It's very much a 'thankfulness morning' for me today.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." - Romans 13:12 KJV

We can 'put it on' like it is garment handing on a hook nearby. This armour illuminates things and circumstances so we see them as God sees them. If we see them in pale moonlight we see one aspect. In bright sunshine we see another but in divine light we have every reason to be thankful.

Thankfulness is a light others see on us also. It is grace on display. Did we forge this armour or weave a robe of righteousness? No. Never. We couldn't. It has been given to us by God because we are citizens and special guests.

If we look at the world without this light it will look different. Paler. Darker.

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" - 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

"We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything." - 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 ESV

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV

Heaven sees the glow. So does the accuser. Darkness has no power to penetrate the armour of Heaven. Find it. If you have believed in Jesus you own a garment of praise and righteousness. The armour is the doctrine that your local assembly should teach. Read Ephesians 6 again and again. Learn it. Know it. Wear it. Raise a hand and vocalize the thankfulness you feel when you see the world according to God's glow.

I believe that is how the martyrs of old died a good death and that is how we live a good (Agathos - Useful) life.

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