It’s Friday, December 5th, 2025. A phalanx is a unified line of soldiers whose shields interlock. A Roman phalanx was nearly impossible to break as long as the formation held. Using this picture, Paul implores the church:
Today's Reading:
Ephesians 5,6; Psalms 119:1-80
Scripture
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11) NIV
Observation
It’s one armor, one faith, one body of many believers. It’s easy to miss in English, but in Greek it is unmistakable: Every command is plural. Every armor piece is singular.
You all put on the armor
You all take up the shield
You all receive the helmet
You all wield the sword
Be a phalanx of faith.
The only tactic the enemy has any chance of using is to fracture the church, because when the church stands united, it becomes an impregnable force of God. And every piece reminds us that the source of our unity is from God. It’s not multiple helmets, multiple shields; we take up His shield, His helmet, His armor, His sword.
Everything God gives is meant to be held together.
Application
Friendly fire is costly. I just read a report that last year, the US Navy mistook two of its fighter jets as enemy missiles and shot one of the $60 million planes out of the sky.
Friendly fire is all too common in the church and it creates fractures in the phalanx, but unity is God’s defense.
Another weak point the enemy uses is isolation. This is one I can easily slip into. I’ll often try to face spiritual battles alone… quietly wrestling, privately struggling, assuming that if I were strong enough I wouldn’t need anyone else.
But the Armor of God was never designed for a solo fight.
If I step out of formation, I step out of protection. If I disconnect, my shield no longer strengthens the person next to me. If I isolate, the enemy doesn’t have to break the whole line… just me.
We stand together as a phalanx of faith, because my victory is tied to our unity.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for placing me in a body of believers and not leaving me to fight alone. Thank You for Your armor—Your truth, Your righteousness, Your gospel, Your salvation, and Your Word. Teach me to stand with others, not apart from them. Guard my heart from isolation, protect my relationships from division, and help me strengthen the shields of those beside me. Knit our hearts together in unity so that we move, stand, pray, and overcome as one.
Make us a phalanx of faith.
Amen.
–Chris Kiriakos