Stay Afloat with the Armor of God

Did you know that if you put an orange in water it will float? Did you also know that if you put that same orange in water except with its peel completely removed it will sink? It is a neat little experiment that you will have to try for yourself. Get yourself an orange or two, a pitcher of water, and have a go at it.

This little experiment serves as an illustration that teaches us about our spiritual life. Many people will either sink or stay afloat in life. Some are dragged down by weights, worries, secret sins, or any number of Satan’s traps. Others keep floating, staying above their problems, pressing on even if the waters are turbulent. Do you know what makes the difference between sinking and floating? Why does life seem to best some people while others are getting the best out of life? What made the difference for the orange in our experiment?

With its peel the orange floats but without its peel it sinks. God has in a way given us a protective peel of our own that will keep us afloat in life. It is called the “Armor of God”. When we choose to suit up with the “Armor of God” we will stay afloat, but if we disregard it, we will certainly sink just like the orange without its peel. If you need a reminder about what armor God gives the Christian listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 6:13-18,

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Well…are you going to sink or float today? It is all a matter of suiting up. Put on the full “Armor of God” today!

Picture by Stuart Kiloh.

Way Maker

If you walk with God long enough, you come to realize that He is constantly working in your favor. The bible tells us to make our requests known to God, but there are some times in life when God answers a prayer or responds to a need before we can even think to ask.

The song we are diving into today is called Way Maker and the chorus says:

(You are) Way Maker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who you are!

When I was in high school, Lacey and I went on vacation to Maine with my mom and stepdad. My brother met us later in the week and we had had a great trip! However, the events that were soon to follow would completely eclipse all of the fun and this would go in the books as the worst family vacation ever taken.

I remember being woken up about 6 AM to my brother storming into our room, yelling that we had to get out because the house was on fire! Time seemed to stand still as we waited and waited for every member to make it out safely. What had begun as a fun week-long trip turned into insurance claims, car repairs, and an additional 2 weeks in a hotel.

Although it was easy to feel inconvenienced, we were also thankful that we were only mourning the loss of our possessions! We knew God was with us during the fire and He was making a way for us in the weeks following.

Isaiah 41:10 says:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God is always faithful and is always working on our behalf. This is a promise we can hold onto! The bridge of the song says:

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working

It was several years later, when a close friend of ours revealed that the night before the fire, he had woken up, feeling God’s nudge to pray for us. Even before we were in trouble, God was making a way for us!

How has God been a way maker in your life? Reflect and take time to be thankful today!

Remember

This is Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day originally began as Decoration Day in the late 1800’s. Decoration Day was started to remember those who lost their lives fighting in the American Civil War. Throughout the years Decoration Day was also used to commemorate those who had fought and died in other wars. Then in the late 1960’s it was instituted as the federal holiday that we celebrate called Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is about remembering those who paid the ultimate price, laying down one’s life, to protect the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Sometimes it may be easy to take our freedoms for granted but holidays like this challenge us to remember. We need to remember the price that was paid. Memorial Day helps us to remember that freedom isn’t free. It comes at a price.

There is something powerful about remembering. It has a way of putting things in perspective and focusing our mind on what’s really important. As you remember our fallen soldiers this weekend, I encourage to remember something else as well. Remember the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember the price He paid for our spiritual freedom. Our freedom from sin and hope of heaven came at a great cost. Do you remember what’s been done for you? I’m sure you know John 3:16, but I want you to read it slowly and carefully as you remember Jesus today.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
-John 3:16, NKJV

Remember what Jesus has done for you today with a thankful and grateful heart. Remember the love He has shown you when you didn’t deserve it. Get your mind off of life’s daily distractions and remember what’s truly important today. There is a savior who loves you and who paid the ultimate price that you might be free from sin and have a hope of heaven. Now don’t forget that.

A Sure Thing

Have you ever listened to a sales pitch and thought, “This has to be a scam!” When we find ourselves in these situations, it’s common to cut the person off, explain as quickly and politely as possible that we aren’t interested, and go about our day. Unfortunately, the skill of recognizing these situations often comes with age and wisdom.

I remember when I was 18, Lacey and I went to the mall in Fairview Heights. In the center of the mall was a group doing a presentation on these animals called sugar gliders. This presentation could more accurately be described as a performance. The salesman was doing all kinds of tricks with these small, seemingly sweet and cuddly creatures. They would jump off a bar and glide onto his shoulder or burrow into his pocket on command. These things were awesome and we had cash in hand! Long story short, after blowing an undisclosed amount of money, we had the most feral, nocturnal, smelly marsupial in all of North America! It would bite, scratch, and let out the most terrifying noise if you opened its pouch. My advice to my 18 year old self would be to save your money and stick with dogs!

With stories like these, there’s no wonder that our society is conditioned to believe in phrases like, “There’s no such thing as a sure thing!” or “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!” Scams are out there and discernment is needed, but as Christians, we are guaranteed at least one SURE THING in life!

1 Peter 1:3 – 4 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you!

A familiar hymn put it this way….

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

When we accept Jesus, it’s a package deal! We gain access to the Father, the Spirit, and an eternal inheritance waiting in heaven. Finally, a deal that is too good NOT to be true!

For more assurance, read all of 1 Peter Chapter 1.