Opt to wear your armor

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

— The sport of bull riding has progressed tremendously in the last two decades. One important advancement has been the lifesaving bull riding armor which includes the helmet and the vest.

Thankfully, most bull riders will wear both. But there are still some that opt out and choose to not wear the armor. Doing so opens them up to the possibility of injuries that otherwise they would not have to incur. If you see a bull rider with missing teeth and some cracked ribs, that may be an indication that they weren’t wearing their armor.

God has given Christians the option of wearing armor as well. In fact, Paul closed the book of Ephesians by encouraging us all to put on the armor of God.

Not every Christian has opted to put on this armor.

It can be obvious at times who is not wearing their armor. Take a look at this list and see if any fits you. If so, it could be that you are not wearing God’s armor:

◊ Gives in easily to temptation

◊ Has bitterness in their hearts

◊ Spreads gossip, Sometimes in the form of a prayer request

◊ Immoral lifestyle

◊ Struggles with fear or worry

◊ Feels the need to seek revenge

◊ Lacking joy and peace in their life

That is of course not an exhaustive list, but it’s a start. I think it would be safe to say that everyone of us has had episodes where one or more of the above would describe us. The good news is that God has given us all we need to have victory in standing our ground. We can dress for success by putting on His armor. Take the time to read Ephesians 6:10-18 and be encouraged.

I also invite you to listen to the upcoming message, “Putting On the Armor of God,” starting next week on the sermon page at www.crossbrand.org.

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Editor’s note: Tim Wallace is pastor of Cross Brand Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected].

For more of Tim’s articles, go to www.tallinthesaddle.

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Church, Pages 2 on 05/18/2011