Armor

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to put on/pick up the armor of God: the belt of truth, the body armor (breastplate) of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Each piece has a role in the life of a warrior of God. Some are protective, some are offensive, some are defensive. Each piece is necessary but not sufficient: we need it all.

But a warrior alone without a warrior community is in great danger. Armor is meant for battle and battle means numbers. Each warrior assists and is assisted by other warriors. As we think about putting on and using the armor of God, we also think about times when we needed help putting on or taking up a particular piece of that armor. Maybe the belt of truth was too heavy or we couldn’t figure it out. We needed another warrior to help us fasten that on. Sometimes we don’t have the strength to raise the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery arrows of the evil one. That’s when other warriors raise and lock their shields over us. And sometimes we do the same for a fellow warrior.

I find this to be particularly true between my husband and me. Part of our commitment, our vows, involve warrioring together side by side. When he sees me struggling to put on a particular piece of God’s armor, he intercedes for me by either helping put it on and/or by beseeching God’s help. And I do the same for him.

Too often, sadly, those who should be in battle together, who should be helping their fellow warrior suit up, instead turn against them. They criticize and belittle the others efforts or even failure to put on God’s armor. Whether it is a friend, a family member, a spouse, whatever the warrior’s relationship to us, we have a responsibility to help them suit up when help is needed.

I’d be so very much in trouble if I wasn’t surrounded by other warriors of God, who help me when I just can’t. Help me, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, to help others just as I have been helped in the midst of battle.