TLIC Family. Day 270. September 27: Put on the whole armor of God.

THINK TOGETHER

Have you ever worn something that protects you? (maybe a helmet)

READ TOGETHER

There’s a great story in the Old Testament about a King of Judah named Jehoshaphat (can you say Jehoshaphat?). Judah was God’s chosen people the Hebrews, and Jehoshaphat was their leader. One day, King Jehoshaphat hears that three enemy armies were all coming to attack Judah. There was no way Judah could fight three armies at once. Everyone was scared. Even King Jehoshaphat was scared.

So King Jehoshaphat prayed to God. And this is what God told him to do:

2 Chronicles 20:17-18. ¹⁷ You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

God told his people to get up, put on their armor, and go stand still at the battle field. But notice what God also tells them – “you will not need to fight.” Why? Because God will fight for them.

And he was. When the three armies were about to attack Judah, God made them get so confused that they all attacked each other. The three armies wiped each other out and all Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah had to do was stand there and watch. God won!

The life of a Christian is the same as what Jehoshaphat experienced that day. Listen to how Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to fight against the Devil:

Ephesians 6:10-11. ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Step 1: Put on the armor of God.

Step 2: Stand still.

Just like Jehoshaphat. God has already won for us through Jesus and his death and resurrection. If you have trusted in Jesus, then the Devil can’t defeat us ever again. Sin can’t conquer us anymore. We have already won because we are connected to Jesus. We don’t have to defeat the Devil, all we have to do is trust that we have all that is Christ’s and then stand still believing that God loves us no matter what. And when the Devil sees that we really believe God and trust in his love, guess what? He will run away every single time.

Because of Jesus we share his victory over the Devil and over sin.

With Jesus we can stand in his armor, trusting that God will always love us no matter what.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Dig into the armor of God a bit more. Read Ephesians 6:10-17. Talk about how every piece of the armor is meant to defend or protect us from the lies of the Devil. What lies? The lie that God is against us not for us. Ask your kids if they ever feel tempted by the Devil to sin. Talk about ways they can trust God’s love for them in those moments.

Notice that the only offensive weapon is the Sword – the Word of God – the gospel. Help your kids to remember that the only thing they need to fight the Devil is the good news of Jesus.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus,

You are my God who has fought and won for me. Help me to be able to stand up to sin and the Devil knowing that God loves me and is always for me.

Amen.

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