Put on the Full Armor of God

(Read 1 Peter 3)

I’ve been wanting to get to know one of my neighbors better for a long time. We have always enjoyed good conversations at community gatherings and have even been in his boat a few times. He’s not as much of an extrovert as people claim I am and even though I know he’s a believer, he’s so quiet about it, I was curious about knowing more of his story. A while back, I asked him if he’d mind sharing his faith journey and in his always agreeable way, he said he would be glad to.

“Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
Isaiah 7:11

(D) told me that his family members growing up were mainly Christmas and Easter people. “If we went to church at all, it was probably my Mom’s doing,” he said. His Dad served in a small capacity but in was more along for the ride. (D) did not have a strong sense of who Jesus was or a real relationship with him. “My cousin was super religious. He was a full-time church goer. I didn’t want to be like that.”

Sitting in the comfort of the warm morning sunshine overlooking our lake, it was easy for me to listen to his coming to believe story, but it was probably not a warm feeling for (D) to share it. “I knew about God, but not what He meant.” He was looking to God for a sign.

Is it wrong to ask God for a sign? Only if it brings you to a check-list approach to your faith. A consumer Christian petitions God for all his or her wants without praising God for His perfection or thanking Him for His grace. God has provided us with all the signs we need in the Holy Bible. If we rely on signs for our faith, we still might not come to believe. The Pharisees asked for a sign when Jesus walked among them — and still didn’t believe.

“I was overseas doing some intel where there was a large crowd coming towards us in a neighborhood. We decided it might be better to take a side street to avoid them.” (D) told me that they discovered all the side streets were actually short dirt roads with dead ends. The main road was the only thoroughfare. “After we turned around, we saw a group of 20 people, some armed with rifles.” He said that gunfire suddenly erupted. He didn’t know who started it, but bullets were flying everywhere, shattering glass, piercing their vehicle, and eventually hitting one of the men in his vehicle. “Soon the whole neighborhood was shooting at us.”

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16

I am amazed at how precisely (D) understands life, and more importantly, his faith. “One way or another God will make you acknowledge that He exists.” In his words, (D) said that God forced his hand 15 years ago. He continued, “You’re either in or you’re out, don’t be lukewarm.” That’s what the Apostle John was writing about in Revelation. Obviously, it’s a problem if you’re cold to God’s offer of grace, but if you’re lukewarm, you’re just dipping your toes in the water. You’re pretending without committing. It’s a lack of faith. If God tells us He’s spitting us out of His mouth, He’s saying that our lukewarm stance is a rejection of Him so He’s rejecting us. (D) was driving the vehicle that day. He didn’t realize the magnitude of the even until he later looked at the riddled vehicle. “We saw bullets everywhere but where I was sitting.”

(D)’s wife was equally important in his walk with Jesus. “People are brought to Christianity by example, not force,” he told me. His wife showed him the crystal clear example of a submissive lifestyle to God’s will. In his naturally descriptive way, (D) said, “God was on the other side of the fence and I was looking over it.” Until this time, (D) wasn’t ready to climb over it or walk through the gate. “She opened doors for me that I wouldn’t have. She brought things to my attention that I didn’t see.” A financial commitment was a difficult thing for them to grasp and then they understood that tithing is giving God back what is His to begin with. Our first fruits are His anyway.

The descriptions of (D)’s life demonstrated to me the pure faith of a believer. “I’ve learned as I mature to step back and look at God’s process. What’s your lesson in this?” We talked about how God puts us through trials to grow. The process purifies us. “Things happen for a reason,” (D) said. I have no doubt of what he was referring to. “I am now careful of what I ask for. The worst scenario is when He will test it.”

“How does your faith help you get through the uncertainties in life, I asked?” “God saved me, before I asked to be saved,” (D) replied. “This gives me strength.” He’s not a big time evangelizer although he had a brief stint of experience of that in a former church. “We were foot soldiers for God, handing out cards inviting people to church.” (D) is a very conscientious person and as long as I’ve known him, he doesn’t speak of things he doesn’t know. “I never wanted to misrepresent His church,” he said. “If verbiage was introduced in a discussion or questions would come up, I stuck to what I knew.”

(D) said that he doesn’t have a strong bond with his younger brother, who never developed a strong relationship with Jesus. “He’s pushed back against my Dad and me.” Left to his own choices, (D) would probably be fine letting things remain as is with his brother. “My wife reminds me that he’s my brother. She brings back how Christ would act. Show humility, acceptance, love.” (D) asked his brother what he thinks about Christianity, and while it wasn’t an on the spot acceptance of Christ, it was an open door. It was a conversation.

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
1 Peter 3:1-2

People get really bent out of shape over this passage. They think it means a form of submittal that’s demeaning. Peter wasn’t saying women should be subject to men and to do whatever your husband tells you to. It’s about mutual trust and example. Jesus was subject to God, the Father, even though they are all equally God. This passage isn’t about superiority or inferiority, it’s about what husbands are called to do. “This is the main reason for me becoming who I am.”

The armor of God protects us and literally saves our lives. In my friend’s case, the armor of God prevented bullets from striking him and brought him to a deep faith because of the Holy Spirit’s work in the trusting and believing example he saw in his wife. The armor of God comes in many forms.

Key Applications:

• Do you have loose strings in your life? Are there unresolved conflicts? Try asking questions and listening. Remain calm. Be an example to them.
• Who or what is the main reason for who you are?
• Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm towards Christ? If you’re cold, you’re not reading this devotional. If you’re lukewarm, examine your position. Why?

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.