EPHESIANS 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

TO PONDER

I'm not sure how true it is, but I recall being told that the ancient Spartans, some of the Ancient Greece's fiercest fighting men, only wore armour that covered their front. This was supposedly because a Spartan warrior NEVER retreated, they would conquer their enemies or die trying, turning their back to their enemies was just not an option.

Interestingly, the armour of God doesn't specifically mention any 'back' armour. Conceivably, a breastplate may also consist of a back plate also, and maybe that is what Paul intended here. However, imagine for a moment, what things would look like if we took the Spartan approach to serving God. We don't turn back or worry about what is behind us, after all, we can't do anything about the past, and Jesus has dealt with all of that anyway. Even when we wrong someone, the right approach is not to go back over it, but to move forward, towards reconciliation and forgiveness, trusting that Christ's work on the cross has got our back and has dealt with our past.

What if that is actually true? What if God is saying to us, "you don't need to go back and live in the guilt and shame of what you have done or what others have done to you. I have got your back."

How freeing could that actually be if we believed that to be true. Because if it is (and I believe it is), then all we have to do is stand firm in the forward facing armour God has supplied us and keep moving forward, to press on towards the goal, to run the race and win the prize. that kind of forward momentum language is all over the New Testament. So don't go back to your life before Jesus. Don't revisit the habits and hurts of the past. Leave them to Jesus and keep your eyes forward and fixed on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith and stand firm and don't let the enemy force a retreat.

PRAYER:Lord God, sometimes all I want to do is run and hide. To hide from my sin, my guilt, my shame, even sometimes to hide from you. I know that this is always the enemies plan, to drive me away from you. Please help me today to remember that you are my rearguard and that I can trust in you to take care of all that is behind me. Please help me today to keep my eyes fixed on the path you have laid out ahead of me and help me to walk in it confidently and to stand sure on your promises. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle