"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil." -Ephesians 6:10-11
Under Armour sports performance apparel has become one of the hottest brands in sports. The company has “engineered” apparel for athletes to protect them from the cold, the heat and the turf. They even offer performance underwear! Athletes from the NFL to NASCAR—and even members of the military—wear Under Armour gear in order to protect themselves from the elements and to enhance performance. I have to admit that I rarely train without it! And my boys even wear it under their football, baseball and lacrosse equipment.
The website for the company confidently boasts, “The Under Armour brand on the chest is more than a logo, it’s our guarantee . . . This shirt is doing something for you. This shirt is making you better.” According to the company, somehow this “armor” will actually make you perform better!
As competitors for Christ, we are given a different kind of armor. The FCA Competitor’s Creed states, “My body is the temple of Jesus Christ. I protect it from within and without.” Just as we protect our bodies through intense physical training, we must also protect our hearts and minds by putting on our spiritual armor. If we step onto the playing field without being prepared physically, our opponent is likely to dominate the competition. We are at a greater risk for injury, and we become a liability to our team. If we step onto life’s playing field without the full armor of God, then our opponent, the devil, is likely to push us all over the field. We are at a greater risk for moral failure, and we become a liability to our team, Team Jesus Christ.
1. Would you ever compete without the right equipment?
2. How can failure to put on the armor of God make you a liability to Team Jesus Christ?
3. Do you put on your spiritual armor each day?
Extra Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 6:10-17
Lord, just as I put on my armor for competition, help me put on Your spiritual armor so that I can stand against the schemes of the devil and be protected from within. Amen.
About the Author:
Jimmy serves as the Mid-Atlantic Vice President of Field Ministry for FCA. As a twenty-year medical fitness leader and former National Director of FCA Health & Fitness, he hosts Fit Fridays on 95.1 SHINE FM. Jimmy is an author of four best-selling books – WisdomWalks, WisdomWalks Sports, PrayFit, and One Word That Will Change Your Life. He is a coach, cyclist and triathlete. He and his wife, Ivelisse, started a cancer foundation called believebig.org [1] following her victory over cancer. They reside in Maryland with their four children. You can e-mail Jimmy at jpage@fca.org [2].