A Life Worthy

One-a-Day Tuesday, 10/14/14

Posted on October 14, 2014 by michaelOctober 14, 2014

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15c).

You know how you get when you’re on your feet all day. Tired, sore, cranky—if you don’t have decent shoes, it’s even worse.

Huh, this sounds more like a commercial than a devotion.

A soldier’s gear was designed to protect him while he was on his feet. If he fell, that soldier became vulnerable and ineffective. On the battlefield, a sharp stone, a tangle of debris, even a random arrow could spell disaster.

Think Achilles.

God wants you in the battle today. He doesn’t want the stones, the debris, the random shots of life to take you down and make you ineffective. God’s truth—the peace in your heart bought by Christ—protects your foundation. It is not only the firm ground upon which you stand, it is the protection you need to keep you standing.

Lace ‘em up tight, Beloved. Stand firm today.

One-a-Day Monday 10/13/14

Posted on October 13, 2014 by michaelOctober 12, 2014

…with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (Eph. 6:14b)

The breastplate is essential protective gear. Cops wear a Kevlar vest. Baseball catchers wear a chest protector. Even Batman has anatomically correct upper body armor. Why is it so important to protect the chest?

Because your heart is there.

In a very literal sense, you can’t live without your heart—so eat right and get plenty of exercise. In the metaphoric sense, the heart is the center of our being, the part of us that makes us…us. As you go out into a sinful, broken, fallen world, how do you protect this essential part of your being?

The righteousness of Christ. The right relationship with God that is yours through Christ, and which gives you a right understanding of who you are and how much you are loved. This, and this alone, will protect your heart from the blows of this twisted world.

Remember, I’m not talking about your own righteousness…the place with God you might think you’ve earned by your good behavior. Count on that to protect your heart, and you might as well try to stop an arrow with a wet paper towel. I’m talking about the perfect righteousness of the King of the Universe.

Which he just happens to be offering to you.

How can this mighty piece of armor fit your spindly little self?

It’s a mystery, Beloved…just go with it.

One-a-Day Friday, 10/10/14

Posted on October 10, 2014 by michaelOctober 10, 2014

Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist… (Ephesians 6:14a)

If it isn’t true…

If God didn’t send his only begotten son to Earth…if Jesus didn’t die for our sins…if he didn’t rise from the grave…if he’s not seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you and me…

Then it’s all a fake.

My faith is a joke. My salvation is a sham. My righteousness is totally pointless. The peace I have with God is nothing but a delusion. Nothing that I do matters, because in the end I am nothing.

If it isn’t true.

But it is.

All of it.

And when I buckle that truth around me, my faith becomes a shield, my salvation a helmet, my righteousness the guardian of my heart, peace with God the shoes that help me stand.

And stand I will.

And so will you.

Because we are his Beloved.

And that’s the truth.

One-a-Day Thursday, 10/9/14

Posted on October 9, 2014 by michaelOctober 9, 2014

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Words that intrigue me in this verse of Scripture:

Full Half measures won’t suffice. You have to put on all the armor; if you leave a vulnerable spot, your enemy will find it and use it to hurt you. He is far more experienced at this sort of thing than you are.

When As in, “When the day of evil comes.” Don’t think in terms of “if.” If you live in Southern California, the big earthquake will happen. If you’re on the East Coast, the hurricane will happen. If you live on this planet, Evil will come for you. Don’t pretend…prepare.

Stand Not leap. Not fly. Not dance. Stand. The day of evil will leave you bloody but not broken, drained but not destroyed. When the tempest recedes, if you stand in Christ, you will stand.

If you stand in Christ,

You

Will

Stand.

Take that into your Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 10/8/14

Posted on October 8, 2014 by michaelOctober 8, 2014

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

Ever have that nightmare where you’re being chased by a terrible monster, and no matter how fast you run it keeps getting closer and closer, and you’re absolutely powerless to stop it?

It’s kinda like that.

Only worse, because it’s real.

Physical skills cannot suffice against spiritual evil. And that’s what you and I face each day as we go about our business.

Your only hope, my only hope, the only hope, is to let the righteous power of God guard us.

Don’t get macho about this. There’s too much at stake.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 10/7/14

Posted on October 7, 2014 by michaelOctober 7, 2014

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:11).

Last summer, my kids got their first taste of quadding. Their uncle, who was in charge of the outing, made sure that everyone was outfitted with protective gear. Helmets, gloves, goggles, chest protectors—you didn’t ride if you weren’t protected.

It was a good thing, too. One of the boys took an epic fall. All that gear that he was wearing saved his bacon, not to mention his head, chest, etc. He was knocked around and shaken up; without his armor, he could have been seriously injured.

An interesting note. It wasn’t his armor. The gear was provided for him free of charge by someone who knew what he needed, and what dangers he was facing.

The quad, the hills, the rocks—they weren’t out to get anybody. They were simply passive objects that presented a hazard. You have an enemy that is anything but passive.

Hey, Beloved–is your gear on?

One-a-Day Monday 10/6/14

Posted on October 5, 2014 by michaelOctober 5, 2014

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Eph. 6:10)

How many pushups can you do? How fast can you run? How far can you throw some heavy thing that needs throwing?

Doesn’t matter.

It’s not enough.

Hey, Mr. Cross-Training, Kickboxing, Black-Belt-Ninja-Man…it’s not enough.

No matter how expert, how brilliant, how talented you are, your powers are puny. There are forces arrayed against you that are beyond your comprehension, much less your strength. You can’t stand up to them—they’ll crush you to powder. You are no match for the least of them.

So don’t try to be.

You see, there is also a God in Heaven, a God who makes all the forces of Hell itself look as weak and pathetic as…well, as you and me. And he offers you his strength. He offers you his power. He wants you to stand in him today, putting on his power like a suit of armor. With him, in him, through him, you are invincible.

There’s a rough week ahead, Beloved. Better suit up.

One-a-Day Friday, 10/3/13

Posted on October 3, 2014 by michaelOctober 3, 2014

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)

Submission is the essence of relationship. When we put ourselves first, we aren’t really capable of loving anyone. Our own desires blind us to what the other person needs and wants. When we learn to submit, to see the other person’s needs and put them ahead of our own, we take the first step in learning to love. Jesus Christ provided us the perfect example of submission. Without his submission to the Father, we would be forever lost. When we follow his example, we honor him and build godly relationships at the same time.

This verse leads into Paul’s famous section on submission. Paul is going to talk about husbands and wives, parents and children, even slaves and masters. No matter what the relationship, the principal is the same. Put the other first. Don’t worry about what you need, or what you think you need. Trust your needs to God, and focus on the other person.

So, Beloved, to whom do you need to submit today? Gird your loins—this oughta be fun!

Happy Friday.

One-a-Day Thursday, 10/2/13

Posted on October 2, 2014 by michaelOctober 1, 2014

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

What’s your favorite worship song?

Yeah, that one—the one you’re thinking of right now.

How about you sing it today—all day? Sing it to yourself, sing it to the people around you, sing it to the Lord of your heart. Sing it loud when you can and quietly when you must. Sing it whether today develops into a beautiful day or a rat-breath day.

I’ll bet, somehow, it ends up being a beautiful day.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 10/1/13

Posted on October 1, 2014 by michaelOctober 1, 2014

…making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16)

Evil is.

Make no mistake—there is evil in this world, no matter what the popular culture and the intellectual elite say. It surrounds us, and seems to grow with each passing day.

But

You don’t belong to evil. You are not of this world. God will bring you opportunities to shine for him, to be salt and light to the people around you.

Take them, Beloved.

Be on the lookout this very day for ways to serve a risen Savior in a fallen world. Pray for the vision to see the opportunity, the courage to take the chance, and the strength to bear the consequences.

Make the most of your Wednesday.