The Shield of Faith

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6: 16

The next piece of armor is the Shield of Faith. Here we are told to "take up" the shield of faith. I was reminded that 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ' in Romans 10:17. How do you hear the Word of Christ but by 'hearing' the Word of God, the Bible.

Faith comes by 'hearing'. Jesus said in John 10: 3, 4, and 27- 30, "My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me."  Ephesians 2: 8-10 says faith is a gift from God, 'by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God that no one should boast....'.

God opens our minds to understand the truth of His Word. He opens our hearts to believe the truth of His Word. When we 'hear' God's Word and understand and believe it, it's not because we are smarter, wiser, or more humble than any other person. It is because God has done His work in us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. We can believe God's Word- every promise. We can obey God's Word- He has given us the ability and the desire to do so. We will not be perfect but He has promised to discipline, train, teach, and transform us into His likeness, as a father does His child, not as punishment for Christ took the punishment for us on the cross, but as a loving father training us in righteousness so that He will present us holy and blameless before Him.

So in all circumstances, no matter what happens in your life take up the shield of faith. Take up your Bible! Read it! Study it! Feed on it, drink it up! Immerse yourself in it! Know it! It is God's voice to you. It is your shield of faith. The more you 'hear' it and know it, the stronger your faith 'with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.' The evil one wants to destroy you, he fills your mind with falsehoods, doubts, subtly trying to distract you, throw you off course. The only way to combat the enemy is to know the Word of God. Follow Christ's example when He was tempted in the wilderness.

You can know the facts of the Bible without truly knowing the Savior. You need to know by personal, hands on, loving, obedient experience of 'hearing' and following the Savior. Have you heard His voice calling you to follow Him? Surrender to Him now! Then get to know Him by reading His Word. Begin with the gospel of John and ask God to open your mind and heart to 'hear with understanding' and He will do it.

The shield of faith takes us back to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the 'Author and Perfector' of our 'faith'. The faith is the whole counsel of God. The faith is the personal faith we have in Him. Both are gifts from God and only He can make them come alive for us.

You 'hear' my voice but do you 'hear' me? Are you listening with understanding? Lord, open our ears so that we can 'hear' and follow You.

to the praise of the glory of His grace,
Norma