“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13 NASB).
It is interesting that Paul said the same thing just two verses before: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (v. 11). In repeating his charge, the Apostle emphasizes our need to be dressed in what God has provided for us.
From Paul’s admonition we can see several things:
• It is a believer’s choice to not only be dressed in God’s armor but in how much they put on—take up the full armor, he writes.
• ‘Take up’ has the connotation the armor is both laying at your feet and is a perfect fit.
• There will be evil days, days that you will do battle with the enemy, as no one is immune from the Evil one.
But I want to spend a little more time with the final phrase, ‘having done everything, stand firm.’ Well-known commentator Albert Barnes writes: “The Greek word means, to work out, effect, or produce; and then to work up, to make an end of, to vanquish.”
I like that thought to ‘work out’ and then ‘work up.’
By wearing the armor God has provided, we are not to simply limit His provision to just doing battle, but we are to use it to fight for total victory.
I think there are times we have all been content to just battle until the enemy runs in temporary retreat, only for him to return and wage the same fight over again. But Paul is saying God’s armor, when fully used, can give us an overcoming triumph where we can stand and face the next battle—not the same one over and over again.
As we stand in front of our closets deciding what to wear each day, let us be sure to include God’s armor in our attire. And with that armor, let’s win completely some old battles, standing strong, so we can fight the new ones that lay in wait along our road to Everlasting.
