Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I love this verse because it's the beginning of the end of Ephesians. This book is filled with immense amounts of encouragement and challenge for the body of believers. There's theology and teaching about who God is that is so important that it can frame and shape who we are as people in the way of Jesus here on earth.
In this beginning of the end here, he says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."
The Final Word Matters
There are two things that come to mind for me when I read this verse. The first part being "a final word," or, "finally." Whenever you hear that, it's alluding to the idea that this is the last, most important thing that you need to remember.
Think about the final scene of a movie that you just recently watched and it's lasting. It lingers. It's the thing that they want you to depart from the experience remembering. You think about the final page of your favorite book. It's the close of an experience that you've hopefully had and a joyful journey through your reading, right? The final word is what I'm sending you away with, summarizing everything that we've just experienced, and what Paul is saying as the final word is really important.
Walking in His Mighty Power
It's the second thing that jumps off the page that we should be walking in His mighty power. Now, you might be thinking, how in the world are we supposed to do this? We're just human people trying the best that we can to stay in rhythm with God. We're following the leading of His Spirit. We're listening to His voice, trying to figure out what to do and how to live on a daily basis.
Well, the most amazing thing about this final word that he's giving is in this finishing statement. He gives us some equipment. That's right. It's very familiar to you. You probably already knew it, but I'm going to remind you that it's the armor of God.
A Rhythm of Remembering
I know there are many children who, in Sunday School, learn this as one of the most important and first things about God and living here on earth that they learn. The sad reality is, sometimes if we're not careful, we keep our thoughts about the armor of God relegated to little children. We tell them that they need to put on the armor to battle all that comes against us in the world, and it's very helpful to give them this imagery of a soldier going into battle.
What if you and I began to practice a rhythm of remembering the armor of God ourselves? This final word from Paul was given as a gift to the people of God, because he's basically saying everything I've showed you, everything I've taught you, everything you've learned about Jesus in this letter, I want you to live it out. Here's how you do it. Put on the armor. When you put on the armor, it helps you to walk in His mighty power.
Living in His Strength, Not Our Own
If we're not careful, we approach life trying to do it in our own strength and according to our own power. When we put on the armor of God, we remember what it means to know His power. That He is the one who gives us what we need to show up to life for His glory.
