What are You Wearing?
can be a complicated process.
The right
outfit for the right occasion.
Is it a
jacket and tie event?
Are dress
slacks okay or is a dress necessary?
What type
of impression will this outfit give?
Is it
professional? Too dressy? Too casual?
What about
a scarf to dress it up or khakis to dress it down?
Too many
questions for so many possibilities.
And sometimes
no matter what you wear
someone else will voice their critique….
…wearing a nice dress = “that is not professional enough”
…wearing a more professional look such
as a nice blouse
and jacket = “you look
unapproachable”
…wearing a simple black sweater or
jacket =
“why so gloomy, you
need more color”
And then
there are accessories….and shoes!
you and I are told not
to worry about such things.
Jesus tells
his disciples…
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will
wear. For life is more than food, and
the body more than clothing.
Consider the lilies, how they grow:
they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was
not clothed like one of these.”
These words
from Jesus are reassuring. God
provides.
We as society
make it difficult,
we make the rules and judgements of what is
and is not appropriate.
You and I are the ones who throw out the question…
In
Ephesians, Paul inspires that question too,
however, with a different view.
Like Jesus,
Paul reassures us that
God will provide what we
need to wear.
This time it is not the
worry of daily clothing
but what is appropriate for standing up to enemies and evil.
The whole armor of God!
Two
questions,
Why did Paul choose the battle imagery
of armor?
and
those in power,
in uniform;
how could everyday people stand
against
the power of Rome?
The
Jewish people had been looking for a Messiah,
a divine warrior;
someone to take charge,
someone to free them from Roman
occupation,
someone to bring vengeance on their
enemies,
someone to save them.
The
savior God sent was not a warrior, but a prince of peace.
Jesus
did not need a literal armor and sword,
his armor of God was in the form of
words:
words of love and faith;
words of God’s strength,
God’s protection,
God’s glory and righteousness;
words to the people of Jesus’ time and
to you and me today,
words
of faith.
Our faith is a gift from God.
God
is the source of strength;
courage through faith comes from God.
In
the Old Testament,
David did not
need Saul’s armor to face Goliath;
he already had the armor of God.
David was passionate in his faith; his courage came from God.
David knew from past experience that God was with him.
David protected his flock,
with God’s help he
defeated lions and bears.
David did not need earthly armor,
he was clothed in
the armor of God.
What
does the armor of God include?
The helmet of salvation,
which symbolizes
Yahweh’s mission to
vindicate God’s people and
promote God’s cause
in the world;
The sword of the Spirit with its cutting power when
the word of God is
uttered;
Paul advises us to cover you whole body
with the shield of faith;
the belt of truth,
which shows you are prepared, and
the breastplate of righteousness,
a symbol from prophetic literature where it was used in the
crusade against
social evil;
and do not forget shoes, because
feet need shoes for
marching and mission.
And one more thing, perhaps the most important thing:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times
in every prayer and supplication.”
Put on the whole armor of God!
But back to the question…
How
does this armor relate to us today?
At
this stage of life,
you may not see yourself marching and going to battle;
yet, the armor of God is still meant for each of us.
God
provides what we need…
What are you and I armed with as believers
and
followers of Christ?
Truth
Righteousness
Readiness grounded
in the Good News of Shalom/Peace
Trust
Deliverance/salvation
Word of God given by
the Spirit
Prayers.
Paul does not include prayers as an after-thought;
Prayers are as necessary as all other parts of the armor of God.
In prayer we find truth: God has answers for us;
righteousness: God is the source of strength;
peace: God is compassionate;
trust: our faith and our hopes
are
in God’s hands;
salvation: with God’s help there can be,
there will be positive transformation.
Without prayer, how do you and I address God
in praise and adoration, with thanksgiving,
in confession and supplication?
Prayer is essential to our armor of God.
So, the next time you and I are faced with the question,
“What are you wearing?”
remember God provides,
we are cared for by God, clothed by God;
Jesus assures us with words of love and faith;
and
through the Holy Spirit, our prayer life is full.
“What are you wearing?”
the whole armor of God!
