In Ephesians 6:16 Paul tells the believer that we need faith, and not just faith, but faith like a shield, because the enemy is not quiet or inactive. Flaming darts are hurled at the Christian. The design and purpose of the enemy is to destroy. How does faith help? Faith is trust. Trust leads to obedience. If I trust God, I will listen and obey. When I walk in the shadow of the Almighty, He is my shield!

Having encouraged the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness as the first two items to put on, Paul now adds the "shoes...the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Scripture says, blessed are the feet of those who bring good news. The gospel is the good news, and it is a gospel of peace. Peace between God and man, and peace in humanity when we believe and follow Jesus together.

Once Paul gets to Ephesians 6:14, he starts to describe various pieces of armor. We look at the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness in verse 14. What does it mean to put on truth every day, like a belt? What does it mean to put on righteousness every day, like a breastplate? And what does it mean to be righteous? Are we putting on our good works? Is it what Christ has done for us? Is it some sort of combination of both?

Continuing through the book of Ephesians, we slow down as we get to Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul has been laying a framework, what the world does and should look like based on God's truth. And now he will describe for those reading what is needed to withstand the evil in the world around us. There is evil, there is a spiritual realm, and our world is affected by it. We must be aware, but not afraid. We must be prepared, but not burdened. Christ is Lord over all!