The Lord's Army

 

By Andrea Merrell

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10 NIV

Vacation Bible School was one of the highlights of my childhood. VBS provided games, crafts, snacks, and Bible stories. But one of my favorite moments came when we marched like little soldiers into the sanctuary holding both the American and Christian flag.

We sang “Onward Christian Soldiers” and "I’m in the Lord’s Army.” I knew every word by heart, but they had little meaning for me at the time. We even talked about putting on God’s armor and what each piece stood for, but again, it just seemed like a nice story.

Now, as an adult, I’m thankful for the foundation built in those early days. As I look back on those songs and Scriptures, I see how relevant they are for daily living.

One writer says we, as Christians, are at war—whether we realize it or not. The Bible is filled with words such as fight, be strong, battle, weapons of warfare, and enemies. But we also see words such as victorious, conqueror, and overcomer.

The war is real, and it rages all around us. It is a spiritual battle, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Against the rulers of darkness and wickedness.

The good news is God has given us everything we need for this battle. We have His very own armor to cover and protect us—along with the precious blood of Jesus. And we have the sword of the Spirit—the powerful, life-giving Word of God—to defeat every scheme and attack of the Enemy.

Welcome to the Lord’s army, fellow soldier. Fight the good fight of faith, and remember that no matter what happens in this life, we win.

 Photo by phil thep on Unsplash