Day 33 - Sunday

Day 33

 

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (TSMG)

Paul now is rounding out his metaphor of the spiritual clothes that God has given us with the "helmet of salvation."  Here he tells us that salvation will be as a helmet to protect our head, which in turn will protect our minds. 

 

I believe it is very interesting that it's salvation that will be part of our mind's protection.  For it is in our minds that the battle most often rages.  We definitely deal with attacks physically in sickness or in other battles with people and personalities.  But the biggest struggle that you and I will face in our lives will be within our own minds.

 

How we think about God, about our lives, about who we are in the grand scheme of it all will potentially win or lose the battle for us.  It is in our mind, what we believe, that will determine who the victor is.  This is why Paul calls us to renew our minds:

 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

Notice that the transforming of our life will not take place in simply changing how we live, what patterns of life we will conform to.  No, it will take place when our mind is renewed to that which is God's will, his purpose and desires for us.  When we simply try to "be good" or change our behavior simply because we think that's what God would want from us, it will only last a short time, because behavior modification does not work.  It must be a transformation that comes from changing how we think or feel or believe…which starts in the mind.

 

Salvation is the beginning.  Too many times the church believes that salvation is the end point.  It is "closing the deal" with someone who doesn't know Christ.  It is the goal, but that is not how Paul or the other writers of the Bible saw it.  Salvation is an event…and a process.  We are saved and being saved at the same time.  And our helmet will help us in that process!

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you believe in me and have given to me the helmet of salvation.  I believe that you are working in me to do your will and good pleasure.  Renew my mind that I may be transformed into the image of Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen."