by Pastor Rich Carlson

The above title is a condensed version of Paul’s concluding chapter to the letter to the Ephesian believers. He sets the rationale for following God with a complete heart and life by portraying the Lord of the universe as being all-powerful and worthy of praise. He then describes part of that praise as being a high standard of living.

That standard includes such strong challenges as “wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord” (5:22). I know that is not something I, nor probably any of us husbands deserve, but I think most wives would not find it too hard to do if we husbands fulfilled our part of the challenge: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for [it]" (5:25). That’s defined as leading her into holiness "through the word" (5:26).

I wish I could say I’ve got that all figured out, but I can’t. I sure would like to. And that’s what each of us husbands should focus on—creating a loving other-centeredness towards our wives that gives them something to respect in us—a quality that is earned rather than demanded.

Young men, this is how you prepare for marriage, too. It’s not how big your bank account is, or how great your job is, or how lucky you know some woman is to have you. It’s all about giving the way Christ gave to the church that makes for a good husband.

But I got a little sidetracked. The conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians calls for me to be strong, defined by the previous two chapters detailing the response God desires in my life. To be strong I need to put on the full armor of God (6:13). This armor includes:

• Truth (6:14)
• Righteousness (6:14)
• The gospel of peace (6:15)
• Faith (6:16)
• Salvation (6:17)
• The Spirit (6:17)

That is what I need to be strong. And with that armor I am not commanded to fight. Instead I am commanded to stand! Four times the chapter says "Stand." Our battle is not against “flesh and blood," but against the powers of darkness.

I can make a conscious, daily choice to equip myself with the armor. It is all given to me when I connect with Jesus. Then I can stand and watch how He will give me victory—to stop the bad and do the good listed in the previous two chapters. Those previous two chapters and their lists of dos and don’ts are not my goals but my benchmarks; indicators of God’s ideal. They also appear to become the byproducts of my focus on the six pieces of armor.

I can do three other things (6:18):

• I can "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
• I can "be alert."
• I can "keep on praying for all the saints."

Paul first gives me reason and motivation to love God, then clear directions and benchmarks toward God’s goal of holiness for me, and then the process for achieving that holy life. I’m not there yet, and I don’t have to be to have assurance of salvation and eternal life, but the more I use His rationale, His direction, and His process, the happier I am.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.