Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Friday, March 25, 2016
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17).
Our focus today is on the helmet of salvation.
If you notice, in war most governments equip their soldiers with special helmets. Obviously, the brain must be protected at all costs. It is the seat of intelligence. It houses all of our memories. It records, and with all the important chemicals secreted there, controls our emotions too. It controls the functions of every other part and organ of the body. It’s no wonder it must be protected wherever possible. More than this, it is through our minds that God communicates. It’s no wonder God has made provision to protect our minds spiritually too.
We need to respect the minds God has entrusted to us. We should fill them with quality thought material. The Bible says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5). If we choose to fill our minds with those things referenced here and abstain from soul-destroying inducements, we will indeed have the mind of Christ.
There are so many people who claim to love God, who, for some reason, are not assured of their salvation. They still focus on themselves and all their mistakes, and worry themselves out of God’s care.
This helmet intended to spiritually protect our minds, is also intended to give us the hope of salvation. Notice what the Bible says: “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:8–9). With our emotional wellbeing is also associated hope for the future. There are so many hopeless people in the world. There are so many people who claim to love God, who, for some reason, are not assured of their salvation. They still focus on themselves and all their mistakes, and worry themselves out of God’s care. The Bible just reassured us that God’s people are not appointed for destruction, or any person who will choose to become one of His people by faith. And this blessed salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
Do you have your armor on?
