Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Putting on the Armor Daily
How can wearing the breastplate of righteousness every day help change our lives? Which ways would you suggest it can change our lives? The armor of God is useless unless we put it on. It’s like a police officer going out to patrol for crime but leaving his bulletproof vest at home. He can still do his job, but he’s considerably more vulnerable to the enemy. Unless we take the time to put on the armor of God, it can’t do a thing for us. Paul writes Christians in Ephesus and tells them, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Eph. 6:14). It’s hard to stand firm if you know you’re vulnerable to attack. Notice that we must put it on because God doesn’t force Himself on us. He won’t put it on for us; that is something we must do ourselves. If you put it on daily, you’ll be like the police officer who can leave home and do his job with considerably more safety. But what is the “breastplate of righteousness”?
The Breastplate of His Righteousness
We have no righteousness of our own (Rom. 3:10-12; 1 John 1:8, 10), so you must understand Who the source of righteousness is–it is Jesus Christ. He became sin for us so that now when God sees us, He sees Jesus’ righteousness in us, not us as sinful creatures (2 Cor. 5:21). Part of changing your daily life is believing the Word of God, that we become the righteousness of Christ by repenting and trusting in Him. If you abide in the Word on a daily basis, the Word will change you on a daily basis. Scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 5:21 can give you a clear understanding of who you are in Christ and how you now have His righteousness. That knowledge should shape your day much differently than leading a daily life of ups and downs and sin and shame. The slate is cleaned by Jesus’ blood. We can confess our sins daily, and He promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
The Breastplate’s Purpose
The breastplate put on by the Roman soldiers was essential to going into war and living through it. Today, Christians are in a war against the devil (Eph. 6:11), the flesh, and their own carnal nature. Since we are fighting an invisible enemy (2 Cor. 10:4), we must protect ourselves as best we can. We must put on Christ and His righteousness to keep the fiery darts of the enemy from penetrating our vital organs. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts and gives us peace of mind so that no weapon formed by the enemy will prosper against us (Isaiah 54:17). Knowing that we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and that we’re no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1), we have the great privilege of putting on that breastplate of His righteousness.
A Closing Prayer
Holy Father in heaven, thank You for providing me with Jesus’ righteousness, because of myself I would have no chance to fight an enemy too powerful and invisible for me to see. Thank You for sending Your Son so that I can have His righteousness imputed on my behalf, and in His holy name I pray.
Amen
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