What do you do when you’re attacked? Every one of us has ways we get defensive. Roman soldiers in Jesus’ day carried large shields covered with leather. The leather could be soaked in water to put out the flaming arrows from their enemies. What do you do when you’re attacked? Do you cover your ears and run away? Do you avoid the people or places who make you uncomfortable? Do you make excuses or tell lies to counter their attacks? Do you fight right back with criticisms or insults of your own? Do you smile and try to bear it, while all the while you’re dying inside? All of us face attacks. What’s your shield?
When the devil—or people being used by the devil—attack, the Bible offers you a better shield: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). You have the shield of faith. What’s the best defense against attacks from the devil and the world? Faith in God’s promises. “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10:11). You have faith in Jesus’ presence with you all the time (Matthew 28:20). You have faith in God’s forgiveness for every one of your sins (John 1:29). You have faith that nothing can separate you from Jesus’ love (Romans 8:39). That shield of faith is your defense against the attacks of the evil one.
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