Strong in the Lord
Finally, be strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:10)
Eph. 6:10-18; I Kings 2:2; Isa. 35:4; I Cor. 16:13-14; Phil. 4:6; II Tim. 2:1
What Is God Saying?
When Paul wrote this letter, he was chained to a Roman soldier. Night and day, a fully armed soldier was at his side to make sure that this criminal would not escape. As he brought his letter to a close, he probably stopped and looked up. There it was. His closing remarks. His clinching illustration. The soldier was wholly armed, ready to take on far more dangerous enemies than Paul. He was ready. Should not Chnstians be wholly armed for their warfare? The belt, the breastplate, the sandals, the shield, the helmet, the sword ... and one more, the secret, the invisible and the greatest weapon, prayer.
How Does This Apply To Us?
It is no accident that Paul's exhortation to Christian soldiers opens with ‘finding our strength in the Lord’ and closes with ‘praying at all times.’ It is also no accident that hearing or listening to the Word of God (6:17) comes immediately before ‘praying at all times’ (6: 18), the sword of the Spirit then praying in the Spirit. That is what it is all about! Listen to the Word, then pray. Result: strong in the Lord.
This passage reminds us that we are engaged in a spiritual conflict from which there is no retreat. Spiritual warfare calls for spiritual weapons. While there is no retreat in this struggle, there also needs to be no defeat. ‘The shield of faith can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one’ (6:16). With the whole armor of God, having stood our ground, we will still be standing when the battle is over. Having done all to stand (6:13). In the whole armor of God there is not a single piece to protect the back. We can stand up to the enemy. We can conquer the enemy if, praying at all times (6: 18), we are strong in the Lord (6.10).
Pray With Me
Lord, when all is said and done, when the student leaves the school of Calvary to set their feet on the walk of daily Christian love, it is the joy of Your presence that cheers them. It is the strength of Your presence that sustains them. How often I have sought the support of a friend and leaned upon their understanding and encouragement. I am grateful for friends; they are often a blessing directly from You. But also lead me, strong Redeemer, truest Friend, in a walk of courageous faith that counts on nothing but Your Word. Help me to listen for nothing but Your command. Let me seek no glory but Your, ‘Well done.’ Let me be alone with You, and if necessary, let me dare to be with You alone. Let me dare to stand alone in the hour of some lonely moral choice. Let me discover that in standing alone, I am never alone.
Apart from You, I am never truly strong. Amid people, occupied with duties, busy with cares and pleasure, when the sun is high and my hands are busy, I think I can be strong apart from You. But when the busy world is hushed and my thoughts are free to roam, when the tools are returned to the shelf and my hands are idle, then I can see that Your ultimate and final strength is my only strength. And it is true.
In the name of Him who made us ‘more than conquerors.’ Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
As we bring our exercise in prayer to a close, we too can say, ‘Finally, be strong in the Lord.’ To live in this world, we need the whole armor of God. Truth to counter falsehood. Righteousness to overcome evil. Peace to replace restlessness and turmoil. Faith to overcome cynicism and unbelief. Salvation to assure us we are not losers. Still, when all is said and done, it is knowing that God is with us and that we are with Him that helps us finally to be strong in the Lord. This comes through listening to God's Word and praying at all times in the Spirit. Our bodies grow strong and stay healthy through physical exercise. Our souls stay strong in the Lord and glow with the joy of spiritual well-being, by the exercise of prayer.
Finally, that's the way to be strong in the Lord.
