“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” Ephesians 6:10

As St Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians, he instructs them on how to proceed. The Christian life is a victorious and triumphal joy as we rest in the gracious work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The old has gone, the new has come and thus as His children we rejoice in the blood of Lamb that was slain for us. Yet as we wait for the “not yet” [The Lord’s final return] the devil never stops scheming. His attack manual is a chockfull of strategies: a “how to” guide on tempting and turning us from God and His Word. Sometimes his attack is subtle while in other instances, more overt. For the Ephesians, the schemes of the evil foe were alive and well. From false teaching [Eph4:14], to falsehood [Eph4:25] and returning to their former life [Eph5], the temptations were surrounded the Ephesians as they too were living in the now and waiting for the not yet. And so it is with us. Therefore we must “be sober-minded. For your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” [1pt5:8].

But remember, your strength and might is not rooted in your human will and reason. Rather, it is Christ who has already been given you the strength in His mighty promises. In faith, we rest in the death and resurrection of our Lord where there our strength is. In faith, we cling to the gifts given through the Water and Word where there our might is given as God puts on you the garment of grace in Holy Baptism. In faith, we feed upon the very body and blood our Lord where there we are strong in His promise-filled words, “given and shed for the forgiveness of your sins”.

You may think that you must win this battle over the spiritual forces of darkness. Yet we know, this is something we cannot do but rather what needs to be done for us. And though the schemes of devil are plentiful, God is greater for He is the Lord of the Resurrection. Yes you will continue to face challenges, conflicts and sufferings. Yet even then, our Lord points you to the suffering of Christ upon the Cross who is your true comfort and care-the eternal remedy and armor for your soul.

In these gray latter days, it seems there is much to fear in this world. Yet remember, we do not proceed alone. Thanks be to God for His gracious care as He has given you the divine armor that not only withstands but also triumphs over sin, death and the devil. I pray that the Lord may grant you His peace as you live in Christ and the invincible armor that He has graciously bestowed upon you in His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins.

Have a blessed September.

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2021/2021-09-Newsletter.pdf