耶穌來並不是要使人做好；祂來是要使人變新。請記得，凡在基督裡變新的人也可能做好。但人的好處並不能解決罪惡，只有新生命才行。

        為什麼呢﹖因為我們是與「那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。」（12節）我們是在扺擋「魔鬼的詭計」。換句話說，我們是在爭戰之中。

        但同時，魔鬼也爭戰。任何一位信徒穿上了「上帝所賜的全副軍裝」，便不僅成了善於防守的人，也有能力抵擋罪惡。他不再是受害者，而是得勝者了，於是魔鬼逃走。

        有點驚奇吧！魔鬼對那些「穿上」上帝軍裝的信徒，那些「站立得住」在「真理……公義……預備……信德……救恩……上帝的道」並「隨時多方禱告祈求」的信徒，沒有機會下手加害。（13-18節）

        「站立真理之中」，意謂你不說謊，也不過說謊生活。也表示耶穌活在你裡面。「公義」是說你選擇對的去做，不計代價。「預備」表示穿戴完畢──你有很好的靈性。「信德」指你一直信靠，順服，並照你期許的原則：「上帝賞賜那些尋求祂的人」（來11）而生活。「救恩」指你「在基督裡」。「上帝的道」是你生活的根基；而「儆醒」則指你張開雙眼──不做糊塗人──並且「隨時禱告」。

        這樣的軍裝可了不得！魔鬼吃了敗仗就知道它的厲害。

        主，我們再一次藉著以弗所書六章八到廿節的禱告與保羅同心。我們應允，每逢魔鬼攻擊我們時，必為此迫切禱告。相信當我們禱告時，藉著我們的主耶穌基督，我們便能穿上軍裝。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

English

        Jesus didn't come to make people nice; He came to make them new. Mind you, people who are new in Christ also tend to be nice, but niceness is no antidote for the galloping disease of sin. Only new life will do.

        Why? Because we are in a "struggle . . . against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (v. 12 NIV). We are in a fight "against the devil's schemes." In other words, we are under attack.

        But then, so is the devil under attack. Any believer who puts on "the whole armour of God" is someone who not only is well defended but is also powerfully offensive to evil. He is_no longer victim, but victor The devil flees.

        Little wonder! The devil doesn't have a chance against believers who have "put on" God's armour and "stand firm" in "truth... righteousness . . . readiness . . . faith . . . salvation . . . the word of God . . . alert (ness) . . .", and who "keep on praying" (v. 13-18 NIV).

        "Standing in truth" means you don't lie, nor do you live a lie. It also means Jesus lives in you. "Righteousness" means fitness — you are in good spiritual shape. "Faith" means you are trusting, obeying, and acting on the basis of your hope that "God is, and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11). "Salvation" means you are "in Christ." The "word of God" is your basis for living, and "alertness" means you have your eyes open — you are no fool — and you "keep on praying."

        Such armour! The devil knows when he is defeated.

        Again Lord, we join Paul in his written prayer from Ephesians 6:18-20. Grant that we will truly pray this for ourselves as he did. We believe as we pray that this will happen through our Lord Jesus Christ.