A final word:
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm
against all the strategies of the devil.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
So be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools,
but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
For once you were full of darkness,
but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light!
Because God’s children are human beings—
made of flesh and blood—
the Son also become flesh and blood.
For only as a human being could he die,
and only by dying could he break the power of the devil,
who had the power of death.
Only in this way could he set free
all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
Let everything you say be good and helpful,
so that your words will be an encouragement
to those who hear them.
The Son radiates God’s own glory
and expresses the very character of God,
and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.
When he had cleansed us from our sins,
he sat down in the place of honor
at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
…I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts
as you trust in him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love
and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand,
as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high,
and how deep his love is.
