For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” Ephesians 6:15 NLT
Today, you may be the only Jesus that your family, friends, co-workers, and enemies will see. Take the Good News with you wherever you go – Light up your world with peace, joy, and freedom!
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NLT
“having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” Ephesians 6:16b
Notice how these pieces of armor say “put on”? It is up to us to put it on. In the case of the breastplate, we’ve been gifted by God with His Righteousness. The Great Exchange: He took our unrighteousness and gave us His righteousness. Our job is to believe it and receive it!
“He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 Holman
That’s who you really are!
Parting words: Remember, the breastplate protects the heart. That’s the one thing we are exhorted in Scripture to guard above all else.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT
“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth,” Ephesians 6:14a NLT
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,” Ephesians 6:14a NKJV
The belt in Roman times—known as the cingulum or balteus played a crucial role in the effectiveness of a soldier’s armor.
It held the scabbard that held his sword. Strips of leather hung off the belt to protect the lower body and held all the other pieces of armor together.
In other words, it is a key part of making all the other pieces of armor effective.
According to the Barna Group: 66% of Americans believe there is NO absolute truth (probably more now and rising daily.) As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live God’s way not the world’s way. God’s Word is the foundation on which we build our lives in every area, if we want true and lasting success.
We need to study Scripture and listen to Biblical teaching to dispell the misbeliefs that we’ve gathered from exposure to the world’s philosophy. It’s everywhere, chipping away at our faith, it’s in public schools, even some Christian schools, the Discovery Channel, the news, everywhere we turn the enemy is trying to deceive us into believing that the Word of God is not literal, not infallible, that it’s just a book of allegories.
The devil’s game is to trick us into diluting our life by trying to get us to mix “just a little” of the world’s philosophy with God’s truth.
Each day, we get to chose, God’s truth or man’s.
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17 NKJV
“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:13 NLT
*“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
I know we can have a tendency to get up in the morning and put on part of our armor and think we are good to go for the day. I know I’ve done it. However, it says “put on EVERY piece”. That’s where our safety lies. Fighting partly dressed is still not obedience.
*Suggestion: For clarity, read a verse in several translations, often that’s where you get your “aha” moment.
What does your daily wardrobe consist of? Half dressed is not dressed at all. I would say, you wouldn’t go to the store in your PJs, but I’ve been to Walmart. So, I will say it this way, you wouldn’t think of going to work, school, or the market with nothing on but a hat and a pair of shoes, why would it be any different for your spiritual outfit?
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12 NKJV
Notice that we put on the armor of God. God left getting dressed for battle to us. He supplied the armor, we put it on. We also fight the battle with Him right by our side. No soldier would ever consider going into battle without their armor or without knowing the enemy and their strategy. Why is it as believers we think we can run into battle with no preparation, fight “naked” and think we will win?
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10
Ephesians is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom from the Apostle Paul who is thought to be the author, probably during his first imprisonment in Rome.
Ephesians 6 is filled with imagery of spiritual warfare. He opens the conversation by exhorting us to “Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.”
This is so reminiscent of what God said to Joshua in 2 Chronicles 32:7. “Be strong and courageous.”
Our power comes from the One who is all-powerful. The closer we draw near to Him, the more we’re filled with His power, because He is the power source. I encourage you to plug into the power source today!
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