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Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!


Friday evenings were Fight Night on the fight channel in Ed’s household. The air was full

of excitement as each fighter made his grand entrance. Music blasted as he entered the

ring, accompanied by his entourage. The announcer finally introduced both boxers just

before the bell rang, ending with the popular phrase—joined in by both the live and

television audience—“Let’s get ready to ru-u-u-m-m-ble!”

Unlike boxers, Christians engage in spiritual rumblings as believers in Christ. Paul’s

letters school us about such things. One of our battles will call for fighting the good fight

of faith. Timothy’s text in 2 Timothy 2:4 reminds us not to get tangled on the ropes of

civilian pursuits—on the grandeur of the world. Our aim is to counter- punch that tendency

and focus on pleasing the one who is Lord of our lives. Just as boxers may not always see

the next punch coming, Paul warns us that we may not see the next trap set before us. Our

opponent has a powerful punch in which he strategically lands at the

right time. The enemy attacks with blows when we least expect it. Our natural flesh can

cause us to stumble in our daily walk, as easily as overreacting to a comment made to us.

That is all we need to justify our ungodly response.

Satan’s assistants are on twenty-four/seven alert to work on getting us to do just that. So

how do we ready ourselves for those attacks? Before the warriors get into the ring, they

prepare themselves. We, like the fighters, are to prepare for spiritual battle as we navigate

the ring of life each day. Throughout the day, we believers have to keep our gear on to

protect us from attacks that could easily send us reeling when we become impatient with

others. We display bad tempers when we feel justified, show poor attitudes when we hear

criticisms and corrections, and, at times, we belittle others to defend our self-esteem.

Attacks will surely come, but God’s armor will shield us in our responses.

Paul describes in Ephesians 6:14–15 how to live among believers in the unity of faith by

this spiritual preparedness. The text instructs us to “fasten on the belt of truth, and having

put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the

readiness given by the gospel of peace.”


For Your Information
When we are dressed daily in our spiritual garb, constant in the Word, continuing in

prayer and growing in grace and truth, then we too, in the spiritual realm, can be ready to

rumble.


Keep in Touch—Text a Friend or Friends with These Words

We know the adversary. The devil prowls around to see whom he can destroy. Remember

that “the God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself

restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10b).