Daily Devotions
Friday, July 10, 2026
This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11)
This is a truth of the Christian faith I’m inclined to forget. It’s easier for me to think my struggle is against other people. I forget that our real struggle is not against each other. Our battle is with the unseen, spiritual forces of evil led by a powerful, supernatural agent the Bible calls the devil, who wants to destroy me and separate me from God, and separate you from God, and us from each other. That’s the true danger, and I need to be reminded of it.
There’s a work of art I’ve seen that helps remind me. It’s an etching by the famous German artist, Albrecht Dürer. It’s titled, “Knight, Death, and the Devil.” I can relate to this knight, because it seems that he, too, is inclined to forget; he doesn’t even notice the danger. The knight and his noble steed dominate the frame. They’re all you see at first, this heavily armored, lone horseman traversing a narrow pass, overshadowed by lifeless, gnarled trees. In the darkness, you can just barely see two menacing specters hovering near—death and the devil. But the knight doesn’t see them. He’s looking straight ahead. He doesn’t see that the devil is on his tail, ready to pounce at the opportune time. The devil knows his opportunity will come. It’s only a matter of time. And time is running out for the knight. The devil will make him stumble and fall. And death will swallow him whole. And he doesn’t even see it coming.
But if you zoom out further, there’s another way to assess the situation. Down here in the valley, everything looks hopeless. But lift your eyes up, up there, on the ridgeline, you can see a mighty fortress. When I first looked at Dürer’s etching, I didn’t even notice it. It just blended in with the gnarled trees. But it’s there. And once you see it, you cannot un-see it—a mighty fortress. And in that fortress is the king who chose this knight for his mission. And now—now we can see that the strength of this soldier is not in himself, but in his Lord, who called him and commissioned him.
Before the famous “armor of God” passage in Ephesians, we’re reminded of how Jesus did battle with the spiritual forces of evil. It was not with the weapons of this world. It was by His surrender to the plan of God, by His self-giving sacrifice of love, and by His resurrection from the dead. Jesus gave Himself over to death and the devil to cancel their power, to ransom us back for God and make us citizens of His kingdom, members of His body. And He promises to be the armor we put on. So now, I see that knight differently. He doesn’t appear aloof or ignorant of the danger around him. No, he goes forward humbly and confidently in God’s strength. And he’s not a lone knight, is he? No, he’s just a small, but important part of the body of Christ, like you, like me. And not even death and the devil can stand in our way.
WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, help us remember that our struggle is not with other people. And protect us as we take our stand against the devil’s schemes. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour.
Reflection Questions:
- Search online for Dürer’s “Knight, Death, and the Devil”—what stands out to you?
- What are the “schemes” the devil has tried to use to separate you from Christ and His people?
- What helps you keep your eyes fixed ahead on the mission to which God has called you?
Today's Readings:
2 Kings 10-12James 4
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