God's Favorite Accessories

We're all familiar with the phrase, "Accessories make the outfit." It's true. Add a pair of heels, a jacket, and big earrings to jeans, and you automatically transform yourself to from school clothes to dress casual. Put on some big sunglasses, carry a large bag with a stuffed yippy dog's head poking out, and you might get followed by the paparazzi. The famous designer Georgio Armani said, "I design for real people. I think of our customers all the time. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothing or accessories that are not practical."

God is into accessories too. In fact, His Word lays out an ensemble that we are to put on every day of our Christian life to protect us. Over the next few days, we will examine the following passage and talk about the appearal God commands us to clothe ourselves in.

Ephesians 6:10-17

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Before we go into WHAT God has called us to wear, let's examine WHY he has called us to put on His spiritual accessories. Remember, God is strong...WAY stronger than we could even imagine being ourselves. But He wants us to have access to His strength. In His power alone can we stand up against Satan's temptations and false teachings.

If you haven't already figured this out, Satan is real. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." He is very real among us, and he will try and make to stumble to bring dishonor to the name of Jesus Christ. DON'T FALL FOR IT. By putting on God's accessories, you are protecting yourself from Satan's attacks.

More bad news. (We'll get to the good news in a minute.) Satan doesn't work alone. Like most "bad guys," he has a posse, composed of dark angels. You have to be prepared to take on his army, and unfortauntely, there's a lot of them.

Hang on, here's the good news. No matter how many of them there are or how good Satan's temptation sounds, God is ALWAYS stronger and His Words are always sweeter. So seek Him and guard yourself in His protection.

Tomorrow, we're going to examine the the first of God's favorite accessories, the belt, as we seek how to gird our waists in truth.