Daily Meditations on the Bible
It is written …
Summary: In today’s meditation, we revisit Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Our first visit was titled “Potshots” and discussed how Jesus’ faith protected him from the evil one. Jesus never takes his eyes of his Father’s will. In today’s meditation we look at Luke’s telling of this story and examine how Jesus used the “sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” to defend against the devil’s arrows.
Continue reading “Luke 4:4 – It Is Written”… and divides the mind and spirit …
Summary: The reason for the sword of the Spirit is to separate our mind from our spirit. Only when we are cut free from the mind’s machinations can our spirit see its need for Jesus.
Continue reading “Hebrews 4:12 – Mind and Spirit”… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Summary: Comparing Paul’s spiritual “sword of the Spirit” to a physical sword of metal yields some interesting insights.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:17b – No Joke”… and the sword of the Spirit,
Summary: The last piece of armor Paul talks is the soldier’s sword. Even soldier’s in the Army of God have one.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:17b – The Army of God”[T]he helmet of salvation …
Summary: The helmet of salvation is a metaphor for the gift of light and life. Jesus comes to us with his hand outstretched, offering to lead us home. When we say “Yes!,” to Jesus, we find ourselves wrapped in his protection from head to toe.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:17a – A Walk in the Dark”Take the helmet of salvation …
Summary: What is the “helmet of salvation?” Where do we get it and why did Paul call it a “helmet?” These curious questions are the heart of today’s meditation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:17a – Mindfulness”… the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: Today, we look at the devil’s attempts to put a flaming arrow in our Lord’s back. Spoiler Alert: It doesn’t go well for Satan.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16c – Potshots”… the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: Job is a helpful role model when it comes to using our shield of faith. We can learn what the shield can do, and what it can’t do. We can also learn how to protect ourselves from arrows aimed at our emotional soft spots.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16c – Job’s Defense”… the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: Pondering the meaning of “flaming arrows” leads us to consider the fate of Job.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16c – And Then There Was Jōb”… with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: The shield of faith is our protection agains the devil’s arrows, but if our shield is going to protect us, we have to know how big a shield we need. The answer to that and other questions about our shield is found by studying the enemy’s tactics and weapons.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16b – The Devil’s Quiver”