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. Ephesians 6: 13, NKJV.
Dear God, we depend on your power to help us stand in the “evil day.” If, or whenever that time should come, please enable us, after we have done our best, to just stand. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
What do you do after you have done your best, in whatever area of your life that may be? What can you do? Is there anything you can do that will outdo your best? I don’t think so. Someone has said, and I completely agree, that “after we have done our best – not even angels can do better!”
Earlier in the chapter where our text for today was taken the apostle Paul is exhorting members of the household of faith who “were once darkness, but now . . . are light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8) to conduct themselves as such. He has spoken to each group separately, husbands, wives, children, masters, slaves. He has shown them what the Lord expects of them. He entreats them to do whatever they do to God and not to human beings (6:7).
Then he reminds them that they are not battling against men and women like themselves, but against supernatural powers. Because of this, they cannot employ regular weapons of warfare, but spiritual weapons, and not only some, but “the whole armor of God” (11) to ensure their victory. To enable them to “stand.”
As I go from place to place talking to different congregations I find that the human plight is very much the same everywhere: “There must be something else I can do.” Now do not misunderstand my argument; I am not one who believe that we should “settle for less.” What I am advocating is that we learn to recognize when we have done our best – and know when it is time to just “stand.”
One of our problems as human beings is leading balanced lives. Perhaps this is because we are always trying to please others. I believe that Christians should have “servant hearts”, and be willing to serve others as Jesus our Example, became a servant to humanity when He was here on earth. Yet even in service we must know when we have done our best, and then just “stand.” Anything more than that is “in excess.”
For this new year I have decided to lead a more organized life. I believe if I can set aside “a time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and do everything in its time, my life will become more balanced. I will have more time to do the things I really enjoy doing. I will also have enough time to dedicate to the things I should do. This will make it easier for me to recognize when I have done my best and it is time to stand.
I will “stand” in the assurance that His grace is sufficient – for my salvation as well as for my needs.
I will “stand” after I have done my best to other human beings.
I will “stand” in the knowledge that I have been “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
And by His grace, one day I will stand on the sea of glass with a palm of victory in my hand!