I'm a Saint, Pt. 31

As we near the end of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he gives the church one final command with respect to the universal battle we all fight, as well as a summation of all previous commands to walk and live as saints of God.

Paul's command to be strong in the Lord will set the stage for how he finishes out his letter to a young church who will need the Lord's strength to endure all that the enemy will throw their way. Strength in the Lord comes through joy, patience, God's presence, prayer, God's word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In being strong in the Lord, we are to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the schemes of the enemy, as well as engage in a spiritual struggle against the powers and principalities that are at war against all of God's people. The key is to remember who we are fighting against - our enemy is not our fellow man, but against the rulers and authorities of the present age that seek to do the will of their father, the devil.

And when we properly identify our enemy while knowing God and who we are in him, we remember that the battle has already been won. Therefore, we continue to fight in victory and from victory, not for victory. We are the victors, because Christ is King!