8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Paul is telling us to have self-control, to put on faith and love as a brestplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. These things are for protection against life that comes our way. Arrows that harm us. Sometimes these arrows make us fall and we get discouraged and think that we can't make it to the end. But the next sentence tells us that God didn't appoint us to wrath. Thank you Jesus. Your wrath is for those who don't or won't choose you. Not for us who seek and sometimes fall because we have been hit by arrows. Our weapons are defensive and offensive. These that he tells us to put on are defensive. We must put them on daily.
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"If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the most high your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Ps 91:9-12
There will be spiritual opposition as we begin to wake up and have our heart broken for those who are not living a full life in Christ. Our enemy wants us discouraged and afraid because the task seems so large and our efforts are often frustrated. But God has promised the protection of those who make the Lord their refuge. It will never be all daisies and sunshine, but He promises He is in control. Lord I want to be on guard, alert and sober. Protect my thoughts so that I will know your voice and ignore the others. Thank you Jesus that you are good---all the time.
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