Armor

There has been another school shooting.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:10-12

Paul speaks figuratively about the protective armor of God, but the evil in the world demands real armor at times.

One of the students who was shot in the head offered his thanks to God for the blessings that saved him from death.  While that may feel like a miracle to him and his family, it may sound hurtful to the families of those who did not survive.

There is no doubt in my mind that we need God's help to defeat the evil in the world.  We cannot make a difference alone. 

Laws are not enough.  People who commit acts of violence defy the laws of the land and of God.

I think the ones who need the armor of God the most are the ones who commit these acts.  It is the armor that keeps the evil from infecting us, so we don't let it take over our minds and souls.

It would be nice if we could all be protected from harm, if nothing could cause us to fall victim to evil.

But it comes down to a matter of choice, I think.  We choose to walk with God as our shield, or to go our own way, and when we choose our own path, we are more vulnerable.

With God as my shield, I can walk through the valley of death and not be corrupted by the evil around me.  So, in that sense, all need God's armor, for all of us can become what we fear.

If we believe in God's power and have faith in Him, we can overcome all evil, but when we fall away, we are most susceptible to the influences all around us.

We need to reach the unreachable and spread the word that God heals all wounds. 

Those who walk in truth follow the laws of God and man.  Those who don't, don't care about laws at all.

Whatever the question, God is the answer.

More to come...