8月5日靈修禱文|DEVOTION

August 5th, 2020

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:12-17

Thought

Since the beginning of this pandemic, many people are constantly discussing whether they should wear a mask. From the Canadian government not encouraging the wearing of masks at beginning, to gradually encouraging the wearing of masks to help to mitigate the pandemic. Until now, there are many cities including Calgary, where legislation has begun to require masks to be worn in indoor public places. Although masks cannot fully protect us, many people do wear masks to prevent themselves or others from being infected.

This reminds me of this passage in Ephesians, Paul reminds us that Christians are not fighting against the flesh and blood on earth, but against the spiritual demons in the sky. Therefore we have to take up the full armor given by God so that we can resist the enemy and stand. Although masks and hand sanitizer are very important at this time to ensure that we are protected from the pandemic, have we spent more time to equip the full armor of God so that we can stand firm in this adversity and protect us from the evil attack? We can even share this gospel with friends who don’t know God.

Prayer

Lord, please teach us in this turmoil generation to put on the full armor you have given to us every day, so that we can be your brave elite soldier and stand firm in this adversity. Amen!

Elder Gordon Kwok

因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰，乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。所以，要拿起神所賜的全副軍裝，好在磨難的日子抵擋仇敵；並且成就了一切，還能站立得住。所以要站穩了，用真理當做帶子束腰，用公義當做護心鏡遮胸，又用平安的福音當做預備走路的鞋穿在腳上。此外，又拿著信德當做藤牌，可以滅盡那惡者一切的火箭；並戴上救恩的頭盔，拿著聖靈的寶劍，就是神的道。

以弗所書 6:12-17

思想

自這個疫情的開始，很多人不斷在討論應否戴口罩。從加拿大政府一開始不鼓勵戴口罩，到慢慢鼓勵戴口罩有幫助減低疫情，到現在有不少城市，包括卡加利，已經開始立法要求在室內公眾地方要戴口罩。雖然口罩不能完全保護我們，但有很多人會戴上口罩避免自己或他人受感染。

這讓我想起以弗所書這段經文，保羅提醒我們基督徒不是與地上屬血氣的爭戰，乃是與天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。所以我們要拿起神所賜的全副軍裝，使我們可以抵擋仇敵並且站立得住。雖然口罩和洗手液在這個時候很重要，可確保我們免受疫情感染。但我們有沒有花更多時間去裝備好神所賜的全副軍裝，叫我們在這逆境中能站立得穩，免受魔鬼攻擊，更可為身邊未認識神的朋友分享這個福音。