Topics: Help from God; Protection; Security; Spiritual Armor; Spiritual Disciplines; Spiritual Formation; Spiritual Growth; Spiritual Warfare; Vulnerability; Weakness
References: Romans 13:11–12; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Ephesians 6:10–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:8
In December 2004, a single question from a young soldier touched off a media firestorm. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had come to deliver a pep talk to the troops at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. But the usually unflappable secretary found himself blindsided by a bold query. As news cameras rolled, Army Specialist Thomas Wilson of the 278th Regimental Combat Team asked Rumsfeld, “Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?”
Specialist Wilson clearly felt he was being sent into battle without proper protection. As Christians, however, we shouldn’t have that fear. Our Supreme Commander generously equips us with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
But it’s up to us to put them on and put them to use.
—Jim Bennett, “Troops Ask about Lack of Proper Equipment,” PreachingToday.com; source: “Troops Put Thorny Questions to Rumsfeld,” CNN.com (December 9, 2004)