Cracked Armor

Over the past few months, we have had a leak in the parsonage kitchen when it has rained. We weren't sure how the water was getting in, but it was ending up in the light over the sink, and most recently, in our kitchen cupboards. This morning, Keith Mead came and took a good look at the roof and found several cracked tiles. After applying nearly a bucket of tar, we hope the problem is fixed. Thanks for your help, Keith.

Just like cracks in roofing can cause water damage over time, cracks in our spiritual armor can cause problems in our walk with God. Satan is always looking for a weakness to exploit: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Just like the rain can find it’s way through a crack in roofing materials, Satan keeps working at a weak spot—a crack in our armor—until he has an opportunity to do serious damage.

Whether we’re thinking of armored vehicles, modern body armor / bullet-proof vests, or medieval plate armor, good armor has always been important. While something is always better than nothing, I’m sure that soldiers and law enforcement officers have always wanted their armor to be in top-notch condition, as any weaknesses in the armor leave them more vulnerable.

This is also true of our spiritual armor. What kinds of things are cracks or gaps in our spiritual armor? Let me suggest a few: lack of prayer, failure to spend regular time in God’s Word, neglecting gathering with the church (Heb. 10:25), unconfessed sin, conflict, anger or hurts that we’ve not done our part to resolve, and the list could go on. Today, I ask you, what is the condition of your spiritual armor? Take time, today, to get it back in top-notch condition. And, “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)

In His grip,
Pastor Decker