Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
As a fellowship, we have been studying Paul’s call to war and its implications for how we live the Christian life. In many different circles, warfare is often happening in an unknown realm, up in the sky. But when we read through the Bible, we see that this warfare is a battle that affects every dimension of our existence. Yet, in the midst of this, Paul calls us to be strong. From Chapter 5 of Ephesians, we see Paul’s exhortation of how we should conduct ourselves in family relations, husbands and wives, continuing in Chapter 6 with children obeying and honouring parents and bondservants obeying their earthly masters. It is at this point in scripture that Paul finally says, Finally, after all that he has spoken beforehand, we should be strong. From my own personal experience, most warfare can be seen and played out in our relationship with others, in how we respond and how we are able to stand in the day of conflict. How can we respond in love despite feelings of hurt and offence, and how can we stand strong in the gospel of Christ in the midst of mistreatment, judgement, and disagreement? When we look at the potential ongoing friction we encounter in our daily relationships, and we examine our responses in light of the love Christ expects for us to have for each other, which we can see in 1 Corinthians 13, we see that we need the strength of the Holy Spirit to stand in love, to suffer long and still minister in love, we need the Grace of God to stand to keep our families and communities whole.
Lord, we earnestly pray for the grace to stand in love. In the midst of relational storms, may we not react out of our own human nature, but respond out of our love and communion with you. We humbly ask that when we falter and treat others in ways that lack love, you will prompt us to quickly apologize and make amends. Soften our hearts, Lord, and guide our thoughts, feelings, and actions, so that we can stand strong in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Much Love in Christ,
Your Sister,
Ruth 
Pursuing Holiness
Biblical Counsellor | Spiritual Director | Leadership Coach