April 16

From Pastor Gary…

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (Ephesians 6: 16)

A Roman soldier carried a shield to protect him in battle. The shield was covered in leather and soaked in water. This was his defense against the assault of the enemy whose arrows were dipped in pitch and lit on fire. The shield would stop and extinguish the “flaming darts” of the enemy. The faith we received in the water of Baptism is our shield against the fiery darts of our enemy, the devil. His arrows of accusation, temptation, and deception are stopped and extinguished when we, by faith, trust and rely on the sure promises of God. It is by faith we live in the victory God has won for us through Christ.

​Verse for today:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2: 8-9)