The first bit of armor discussed is the belt of Truth. A soldier’s belt could keep things from falling down, and maybe it could also be used to hang things on. Truth keeps things in order, keeps it tight. It’s solid, immutable, and always sure. You can hang other weapons on a belt like you can hang spiritual things on the Truth. Promises of God can hang from a belt of Truth (I will never leave you nor forsake you). The dagger of previous victories can hang on God’s truth. Our conviction hangs on it, and our obedience hangs on it. God’s belt of Truth can keep us together and also provide a place to put things to use against the enemy.

Having this Truth also prepares us against Satan’s lies. He comes with them hard and fast. Knowing the Word of God prepares us to be able to call Satan out on his lies and keeps our mind from becoming cloudy. May I strive to learn this Truth and wrap it around my waist to go wherever I go.

A breastplate is used to protect your vital organs. Christ’s righteousness protects my heart from corruption. My own heart is only evil (Gen. 6:5), but when I put on Christ, His righteousness is what people can see and is what will defend me from Satan’s attempted fatal attacks. A breastplate is one-sided, though. I can’t turn around to my old ways and still be protected. I have to keep my eyes set forward on Christ, and His righteousness will cover me.

Why would I wear the Gospel on my feet? Maybe it’s symbolic of taking the Word to the world. Christ didn’t tell His disciples to sit and wait, He told them to “Go!” The Gospel can also protect us as we walk the same way the belt of Truth holds us together. The Truth of the Gospel keeps us motivated and doesn’t let our feet get tired too quickly.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things
• Food for my Seder
• My First Seder
• Languaging

Continuing on, I noticed something in verse 13. It says to put on the whole armor of God. Not just part, but the whole thing. Each part will be essential. It also talks about withstanding. That means there will be conflict of some sort. I heard a commercial for notreligion.com today that depicted a young man giving his ticket to ride on the Salvation ship. When someone told him to get down after he had boarded, he realized he was in the middle of battle. He said something like, “hey, I didn’t sign up for this!” I think sometimes we might forget this Walk really is a battle.

So the Word says to take on the armor of God so that you can “withstand” the battle in the evil day. This is the evil day. Tomorrow will be the evil day. There’s a sense of relentless attached as the verse continues. After I’ve done everything I can against the enemy, where on my own I would certainly have fallen, the armor of God gives the strength to remain standing.

Next up: the armor.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things
• Food for my Seder
• My First Seder
• Languaging

I was encouraged by a friend to begin a study of part of Ephesians 6. I decided to share it here as I go along. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to read it for yourself first. Let’s jump right in.

Why armor? This is indeed a battle, though verse 12 quantifies it. It’s not a physical battle; it’s mostly a spiritual battle, but maybe also partly a mental one. Not necessarily that I can will myself to fight (but I do have some responsibility, says 1 Cor. 9:27), but our minds can be a playground for temptation.

The purpose of this armor is to be able to withstand the onslaught of Satan. The King James Version uses the word “wiles”, or schemes. Those are perhaps the most dangerous kinds of attacks because a scheme is meant to deceive. The blatant attacks don’t surprise us. Our armor protects us, but we see those coming a mile away. It’s the schemes we don’t necessarily see and need to pay special attention to guarding against.

One important thing to note before going further is it’s not our own strength in which we stand. Paul, in verse 10, tells us to “be strong in he Lord, and in the power of His might.” The only way we can really be successful in fighting Satan’s schemes is to be standing firm on the Rock and relying on His strength to see us through.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things
• Food for my Seder
• My First Seder
• Languaging