Bible Verse:
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13 to “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
Thoughts:
I mentioned in our last devotion about how as I was checking my gear for the upcoming waterfowl season, I began to think about what all we wear, suit up with, in order to go duck or goose hunting on water or in a dry field. In the cold of winter while hunting in water, we have all of the basic inner and outer layers including waders in order to keep us warm and dry. If we are dry field hunting we suit up with some type of insulated bibs or coveralls to protect us from the elements. We go to great lengths to protect us from the elements while pursuing our outdoor passion.
When I played football before each practice and game we would suit up with pads and a helmet in order to protect us while on the field of contest.
Just as the right clothing provides protection while hunting and pads and a helmet provide football players with physical protection, we as Christians need other protection as well.
We are called to put on the full armor of God in order to help us stand against the devil’s schemes. There is a battle that is raging everyday in the spiritual realm, a battle for your heart. While God is trying to influence and draw people toward righteousness, Satan on the other hand is doing everything he can to scheme and tempt us to turn our hearts away from God.
Fortunately,God has given us a suit of armor for us to put on in order to stand against the attack of the enemy. However, I’m afraid that many of us each day, fail to suit up with the most important protection of our lives spiritually.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13 to “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
Paul no doubt uses the armor illustration due to the fact that he is writing this letter while in prison chained to a Roman guard. He had plenty of time to observe each piece of armor worn by the Roman soldiers.
Paul in Ephesians chapter six identifies six different pieces of armor. In Part One we talked about the Belt of Truth. Today we continue with the second piece or armor, the Breastplate of Righteousness.
“Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1903 says “Under the Roman republic all the legionaries wore a bronze cuirass consisting of a breast and back plate with a border of pendent leather straps defending the lower part of the body.”
The main reason or function for this piece of armor was to protect the heart and vital organs. Just as a bronze cuirass or a coat made of interlinking chain mail, metal, or bone was a breastplate to the Roman Soldier, righteousness is a spiritual breastplate to the believer.
There are two kinds of righteousness that we read about in scripture. One is our own righteousness or man’s righteousness. This righteousness is one that we can accomplish on our own without Christ. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that this righteousness, man’s righteousness is as filthy rags.
The second kind of righteousness is the righteousness of God that is imputed to us at salvation. This righteousness only comes as a gift from God, appropriated to us through Christ. Whenever we receive this righteousness through faith, it then gives us total acceptance before God through Christ.
I really like the way that Greg Laurie illustrates this in his devotion titled “Our Defense”.
“Key to the armor, the breastplate protects the vital organs. On the Roman battlefield, this is where the enemy would strike, so the breastplate would protect this important area.
In the same way, Satan will strike here because a well-placed blow to this area could prove fatal. Now, when we sin, we are very vulnerable, because the devil comes to us and says, “You have sinned. You are not worthy of God’s forgiveness. You are not deserving of His blessings. God won’t listen to your prayers. You’re a hypocrite.”
Action Point
What will you say when that day comes? We all will sin. We all will fail. We all will fall short. The Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). What will you say on that day? Will you boast about the Bible verses you’ve memorized or the people you’ve led to the Lord or how often you go to church?
If you rely on what you’ve done, then you are guilty of self-righteousness, which simply means you believe that you somehow merit God’s blessing because of all the things you’ve done. If this is your attitude, then you have a breastplate made of Styrofoam. One strike of the enemy’s sword will cut it apart and leave you open and exposed.
When you have sinned and the enemy condemns and accuses you, don’t boast of all that you have done for God. Instead, boast of all that God has done for you. That is putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
Sportsmen’s Tip:
There are many types of equipment that you can use to hunt Water Fowl. The internet and magazines tell you what is best and that they will cause you to have a better and more successful hunt.
There are also lots of temptations out there on the internet and magazines that tell us how we can have a better and more fulfilling life. Satan uses those to set us up for failure.
Putting on the armor of God on a daily basis will cause you to have a better and more successful life.
The belt of truth protects us and prepares us for the battle that is part of our Christian journey. As Jerry Davenport always says: See you in Church on Sunday. You will find your daily armor there.