Put on the Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:11-13 says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

I’ve always loved the idea of donning the armor of God, but what does that look like? In a world of violence, conflict, and doubt, learning what God's armor looks like feels more important than ever. As much as I’d like to say it’s as easy as slipping on a hoodie with the words “Christ is King” stamped on the front and calling it a day, I know it’s not. The armor that we don is reflected in the gospel principles that we strive to live and the actions we choose to take. God commands us to seek truth and righteousness. He exhorts us to uphold peace and walk with faith. We are asked to be charitable and loving, even in a world that lacks such principles. To put on the armor of God is to live in the world and not of the world. It is to be an example of the Lord by following in His footsteps. It is choosing faith over fear, love over hate, and peace over conflict. It is to study His word and ponder it. It is to act upon it with integrity and diligence. It is to seek out and serve the poor, the hungry, the downtrodden, and the lost.

Just as Christ is powerful to save, the Adversary is equally powerful to drag us down. Darkness plagues this world, the kind of darkness that can only be extinguished by the light of Christ. We fight against external conflicts and trials as well as internal conflicts and temptations. As we don the armor of God, we receive the aid of His Holy Spirit to strengthen and uplift us. We receive the power granted by the Atonement of Jesus Christ to overcome our trials and to become true disciples of the Savior.

With Disciple Apparel, I hope to inspire fellow Christians to become disciples of the Lord, to dedicate their lives to Him, and to express their faith through how they live (and dress). So this is my invitation: Let us, as Christians, regardless of denomination, unite ourselves in our love for Christ and our fellow man and don upon ourselves the armor of God. Let us strive to follow the steps of the Savior, living by His example and becoming beacons of hope and light.

And after having done all we can, let us stand.