The title alone might cause someone to pause and wonder if this might be a call to arms in the physical sense. Nothing could be further from the intention here. The call is to spiritual arms. The battle belongs to the Lord, but He has also given us everything we need to do battle.

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. (Eph 6:12)

This morning’s daily devotion from Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” devotional is about the battle believer’s of Christ face everyday. Some days are more intense than others. This reminds me of times I’ve put on the armor of God and walked right into battle and in the very second I’ve presumed to have all the armor on, been cut down. I think we’ve all been smacked down right out of the gate. and to make the matter worse, we might think of this as a failure. But we do learn from it. We do battle every minute of every day. We have the Almighty Creator and Sustainer already engaged, and there with us. Fight On!

I really liked the one verse of the hymn mentioned in Spurgeon’s devotional so I had to look it up for the additional verses. The hymn “Soldiers of Christ, Arise” was written by Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788).

1. Soldiers of Christ arise,
and put your armor on,
strong in the strength which God supplies
thru his eternal Son;
strong in the Lord of Hosts,
and in his mighty power,
who in the strength of Jesus trusts
is more than conqueror.

2. Stand then in his great might,
with all his strength endued,
but take to arm you for the fight
the panoply of God;
that having all things done,
and all your conflicts passed,
ye may o’ercome thru Christ alone
and stand entire at last.

3. Pray without ceasing, pray,
(your Captain gives the word)
his summons cheerfully obey
and call upon the Lord;
to God your every want
in instant prayer display,
pray always, pray and never faint,
pray, without ceasing pray.

4. From strength to strength go on,
wrestle and fight and pray,
tread all the powers of darkness down
and win the well-fought day.
Still let the Spirit cry
in all his soldiers, “Come!”
till Christ the Lord, descends from high
and takes the conquerors home.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Image used from dannysinquefield.com