Bible League: Living His Word . . . above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.In Ephesians 6:10-20 the Apostle Paul tells us about a war being waged against the people of God. In order for Christians to stand victorious in this war armor must be used. Ordinary armor, however, will not do. This is because of the nature of the enemy. The enemy is not "flesh and blood," but "principalities," "powers," "rulers of darkness," and "spiritual hosts of wickedness." The enemy, in other words, is the whole army of demonic forces under the control of Satan, the "wicked one" himself. The armor, as a result, must be fitting for a war against evil spiritual forces. It must be the whole "armor of God." There is "truth," "righteousness," the "gospel of peace," "salvation," and the "word of God." The most important piece of armor according to our verse for today, however, is faith. "Above all," Paul says, we should take up the "shield of faith." Faith is the only piece of armor in Paul's list that he identifies as being arrayed against specific weapons of the enemy. The weapons in question are "fiery darts." What are "the fiery darts of the wicked one?" Since faith is needed to combat them, they must be anything used against us in an attempt to negatively affect our faith. The possibilities are many. For example, they could be temptations that attempt to lead us away from the faith, trials that test our faith, persecutions that attempt to destroy our faith, or ideas and arguments that attempt to undermine our faith. Paul tells us that what we must do in order to defend ourselves against the fiery darts is to take up the shield of faith. We must actively defend ourselves with faith, not just passively endure the shots of the enemy. Although faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), it is also something that we do. In order to defeat the enemy's weapons, then, we must utilize the faith God has given us. A wise man once said, "If you want faith, stop doubting." Today, as we once again face the fiery darts of the enemy, let us ask God to help us stop doubting and take up the shield of faith He has equipped us with. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 22, 23 Leviticus 22 -- Rules for Priests and Flawless Sacrifices NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 23 -- Feasts of Weeks, Trumpets, Tabernacles; Day of Atonement NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 1:1-22 Mark 1 -- John the Baptist Preaches, Baptizes Jesus; Jesus Tempted, Calls First Disciples, Preaches, Heals and Prays in Galilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Our children will also serve him.Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done. Insight If we want our children to serve the Lord, they must hear about him from us. It is not enough to rely on the church or those with more knowledge to provide all their Christian education. Challenge We must reinforce the lessons of the Bible in our homes. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Philippians 4:11 I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned ... to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave--a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.1 Peter 2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," Philippians 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Psalm 8:1 For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Matthew 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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