Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

What would you do and how would you act if this had been the last words from Paul in this epistle? He does declare finally my brethren. Then he goes on further to one of the most often quoted sections of his epistles, putting on the armor.

Those are powerful words and the general consensus is that it means to put on Christ. We seem to sense this by words in this verse, “in the Lord” and “in the power”. Let me ask you this then; how do you put on Christ?

Can you do it by overlooking everything Paul has asked of us in the preceding verses? Can we forget to follow the instructions that led up to this point and believe that all we have to do is put on Christ and everything will be fine?

We do fight the enemy of the Cross and we do need that armor to do battle. If that is true then let us think like real warriors preparing to go off to battle. Why are you going off to battle in the first place? Because he is the enemy? Noble consideration but as one who has been to war, allow me to make one historical observation.

I came back from war and my country had fallen apart. All that I had thought I was defending had vanished and my home was unrecognizable. What value is there in fighting a war if the kingdom is not prepared to remain faithful to the King while you are away doing battle?

That is what the previous five chapter of Ephesians is all about. If we leave all that undone, putting on the armor only defends you and not everything you love.

Finally my brethren, after you have done all that, then you can put on Christ, then you can move in His power.

Just remember it is His power and not yours.