“Put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13).

If you ran into someone, let’s say at a crowded checkout line, dressed in a full suit of Roman armor—helmet, breastplate, shield, sword, the whole works—you might be puzzled, bemused, or maybe annoyed: no wonder the line’s moving so slowly!

If, however, you encountered someone whose life was characterized by truth, righteousness, peace and the rest of the panoply Paul lists in this week’s text, how would that look to you?  You have to admit: truth, righteousness, peace just look good on a person!

We do not need to put on the full armor of God in order to “look good” or impress folks with our spiritual sartorial style.  We put it on because we’re in a war.

Consider what an un-armored Christian looks like: instead of the belt of truth holding the innards together, the un-armored one has kind of let himself go around the middle, and seeks perhaps to disguise the fact by belting up with lies of various kind.  His heart, being unprotected by God’s righteousness, is regularly and deeply wounded by its opposite, devilish injustice. The un-armored one may not be coming in barefoot; maybe she’s wearing high heels, or platform shoes, into the arena of battle.  

If you knew that every single day your head would be subject to sharp objects coming at it at high speed, what would you want to put on before heading out in the morning?  (Hint: a baseball cap isn’t going to cut it). If you knew that your guts would face similarly sharp objects heading their way … that your heart, the center and core of your life and soul, had a bright bullseye painted on it, what would you want to have with you every day, ready to hand? A breastplate or some bling?  A shield or a bag of chips?

And consider your fellow soldiers, those fighting to follow Jesus faithfully alongside of you.  If they show up in baseball cap, flip-flops, colorful Hawaiian print t-shirt, and carrying a cool drink instead of a sword, what do you think would happen to company morale?  

What if you’re the one showing up un-armored?  How would the next battle, the one we’re in today, be likely to go, for you?  For your fellow soldiers?

Paul’s armor picture is describing the Christ-character that clothes us for the battle we’re already in.

Which piece of armor do you tend to forget/overlook?  (HINT: think about where and how you are most often attacked: in your thoughts?  In your ‘guts,’ the places of deep desires and longings?) What are two ways you could pay attention to those missing pieces of your daily armor?