It’s Time
From the Armor Series
“In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 CSB
Hey friend!
I’m so glad you are here. I have a confession. I have wrestled with the shield of faith in the armor. A lot! It’s one thing to talk about faith but it’s a whole different thing to live out faith.
Ephesians 6:16 says, “In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” What comes to mind when you think of the shield of faith? For many years I thought the shield of faith was like a circular shield that you might see one of the Avengers carry in a movie. But once I studied this particular piece of armor, then I started to understand it much better and how to use it in my life.
The Roman army in the first century was the most advanced army in the world. They had two different types of shields but the one that Paul was referring to in this passage was the larger shield that was usually two feet wide and four feet long. It was shaped almost like a door. It was made up of planks of wood that had been fused together. The wood was covered by canvas and then by leather. Iron was built into the center of the shield as well as on the edges of the shield. It is said that these shields were so large that when a solider was crouched down, the shield would cover the whole body of the solider.
Paul wrote that we are to “take up” the shield of faith. What exactly does that mean, friend? The definition of “take up” is become interested or engaged in a pursuit. See, faith is not something that we just talk about. Faith is to be active – to be engaged in a pursuit. Faith is an action. Active faith is a shield because active faith is a reliance on God. Tony Evans gives this definition of faith, “Faith is acting like it is so, even when it is not so, so that it might be so, simply because God said so.”
God’s word says we are to take up the shield of faith in every situation. Not just some situations – you know – the easy situations where putting our faith in action is a no brainer. Nope – we are to put faith in action in every situation. Especially the situations where it seems impossible or where things just don’t make sense.
The latter part of our key verse tells why we need the shield of faith. We will uncover that the next time we meet. But for now, I want to encourage you to take up your shield of faith like your life depends on it. Because it actually does.
Friend, it’s time! It’s time to start taking God at His word. It’s time to act like God is telling the truth. It’s time to walk in faith. It’s time friend! – Walk on!
Dear God,
Thank you for your faithfulness. Your promises are trustworthy and true. Thank you for helping me to understand what it means to “take up” the shield of faith. Give me boldness and courage to walk in active faith, taking you at your word. Help me to do this in every situation that I encounter. Especially the ones that don’t make sense. Forgive me when I don’t trust you and help me to trust you with everything I encounter. You are so good to me, and you are good at being God. I love you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous,[a] be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 CSB
Reflection:
What misconceptions have you had about the shield of faith?
What strengths and struggles do you have with having an active, action-based faith?
Write out a prayer asking God for help in this area.