Since September, those who attend ‘Well in the Week’ on Thursday mornings at Seaton Road Methodist Church, Felixstowe, have been considering ‘Essentials for Wellness’. We probably all know the essentials for life – food, water, shelter, love, and we could, in these modern times, add a healthy diet, exercise, and mindfulness to the list. But what of our spiritual health? This series of Thought for the Day brings to mind what is essential to keep our souls healthy and well.
‘PROTECTION’
‘Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil’
Ephesians 6:11
‘PROTECTION’
When you are a child, a good parent will protect you. They will make sure that you have the appropriate clothing if you go out in the cold or rain, or hot sun. They will make sure you can’t get out of the garden, or fall down the stairs, they will protect you from danger as much as they can, by strapping you in a car seat, etc. But as an adult, you have to take responsibility for your own protection. If you don’t want to burn your hands on a hot oven tin, you wear gloves, a helmet if you go on a bike, an apron if you don’t want to get splashed with cooking mess etc. That protection requires, usually, some preparation, or thought before you need it.
I see the protection that we read about in Ephesians as a joint responsibility with God and ourselves. He provides the protection, but we must be prepared to put it on. He provides this protection to get us through life with all it’s pitfalls and dangers.
At some point in our lives, we will have told or lived an untruth – God provides us with a belt to remind us, and protect us before we go down that slippery slope of lying. Righteousness is not being a goody two shoes but being right with God, and the breastplate of righteousness protects our heart, and where your heart is there will also be your treasure. It ensures that our heart is right with God.
It’s very easy to wade into a discussion or argument or situation with clod-hopper boots, but God provides us with shoes that not only fit, but make us ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
Throughout our lifetime, our faith may grow at times or falter at times, because we never know where challenge or temptation might come from, so a shield which protects you whichever way you turn is very useful to quench the flaming arrows that fly from all directions.
There are all sorts of headwear to protect us, from sunhats to crash helmets, wooly hats to swimming hats. All used in a different context, but for the same purpose – to protect your head against danger or injury. The helmet of salvation saves us, and reminds us that we are saved by God through Jesus.
The sword of the Spirit is the most powerful protection you can pick up – the Word of God.
This passage is a wonderful visual aide memoire to equip us for each day. Provided for and protected by the whole amour of God, and an essential for wellness if we will just remember to put it on.