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The Armor of God and Light in the Darkness

Dec 12
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 6:10–17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Using the imagery of a soldier going into battle, the author of this letter tells us that we are at war with the forces of evil.  I am convinced that the author is correct.  How else can I explain that while we have enough food to feed everyone on the planet, we still have people who are starving?  How else can I explain that 40 years after the first Earth Day, we still do not care enough about being caretakers of the earth?  How else do I explain the wars and violence that still take place even after World War II, which destroyed millions of lives?  The author speaks of the cosmic powers of darkness.  I believe they are real. (more…)

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Getting Along in the World

Jul 14
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 4:31–32; 5:1–2

31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I know that negotiations can be difficult, and I know there are principles and values at stake.  Still, I wonder if this would be a good passage of scripture to forward to those in Washington, DC, and those in St. Paul who cannot seem to come to an agreement about taxes, spending, and the debt ceiling.  If we can get them all to be kind to one another, will it be easier to forge an agreement?  Can they forgive each other for the rhetoric that has been directed at each other?  Can they become tenderhearted?  Can they live in love? (more…)

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Words and Anger

Jul 13
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 4:25–29

25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

As most people who know me know, I can get angry.  Maybe that is why I like this passage.  It makes the distinction between being angry and sinning.  I think it is important to channel our anger in constructive ways.  Anger is a sign to us that something is wrong in our life.  We need to take action.  Sometimes we need to say something to someone else.  Sometimes we need to say something to ourselves.  What is as hard as anything is when you or I are angry about something, but we don’t feel we have the power to do anything about it.  That frustrating situation can make our anger grow. (more…)

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The Christian Life

Jul 12
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 4:17–24

17 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19 They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 That is not the way you learned Christ! 21 For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

A good question to ask is, “Do we live as Christians in a holy nation, or in a gentile world?”  Has our nation abandoned itself to licentiousness and greed and impurity?  Are we ready and willing to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and to live as new selves according to the likeness of God and to live righteously? (more…)

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Life as a Gift

Apr 12
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 2:8–10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

It is a basic understanding of the Christian faith that everything we have, everything we think we own, is a gift to us from God.  Why should it not be the case with our faith?  Our faith, our salvation, and our life in Christ all come to us as gifts from God.  Certainly we are involved, but ultimately everything comes to us as a gift. (more…)

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The Light of the World

Jan 24
Posted by Pastor Howard White in Devotionals

Ephesians 5:8–10

8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

I try to avoid preaching about politics, and I try to hide my political leanings.  Still, I think God would have me try to discern what is good and right and true as I make political decisions through my voting and seek to influence my representatives through the letters I write. (more…)

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Armor of God

Oct 12
Posted by kim in Devotionals

Ephesians 6:10–13:  10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

When I first read this text this morning, I reacted negatively to the image of the armor of God.  I am not a person who likes war and violence.  I know what is included in the armor. It is listed in the following verses, vv. 13-17:  belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.  It is just not an image that works for me. (more…)

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