Playing the right game
This week's verses are Ephesians 6:10-12: Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. These verses come after a frank discussion of slavery that would be shocking to our modern ears. We would expect Paul to have preached fire and brimstone to the slave owners, but instead he just basically said, "regardless of your circumstances just try to be excellent to each other." But these verses explain why. Paul is telling us here that we should focus on God and our place in his universe, not on the external things in our lives. Rather than focusing on slavery, we should be concerned about the depravity and separation from God that causes it to occur....