(NIV) Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.
The small phrase “with the breastplate of righteousness in place” is one of those phrases in the scriptures that is packed with significance for God’s people. A breastplate is the piece of a warrior’s armor that protects the very life blood and heart of the soldier. A breastplate had to be made from the strongest metal to deflect any direct attack from the enemy that got past the shield that the warrior held out in battle. It was the final piece of protection, and the very reliable against the swords and blows being taken against the soldier.
God in his everlasting wisdom, made the breastplate for our earthly armor and protection out of the strength of his everlasting love for us…. Our righteousness purchased with the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. You see, for us to stand forgiven and holy before God one day, our sins had to be paid for, and we had to receive his gift of salvation. That is why he offered us the breastplate of righteousness…. It serves as a secure protector of our very standing before the Lord, and the most important part of ourselves that God wants to protect….. Our heart.
The greatest thing about the breastplate of righteousness, is that we receive it when we give our lives to Christ (John 3:16, John 1:12), it becomes a part of our eternal dressing. The key for us to wear it means for us to fully know that what Christ did on the cross in our behalf was completely sufficient for us to one day stand fully forgiven, and fully righteous before a Holy and Loving God. Our sin will be no more because of this..
To fully enjoy our walk with God, our heavenly father, we must be equipped with the knowledge of this to endure the emotional and spiritual battles we face every day that would bring us down.
Things like failure, ridicule, harassment, embarrassment, humiliation, have no bearing on what Christ accomplished for us on that cross. He gave us righteous standing before the Creator. That is where we must stand. Confidence, not in my human capabilities, or my creativity, or steadiness…. But in Christ alone. The thought of this drives out both arrogance, and insecurity. Neither can dwell in the full awareness of what we have been afforded in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross…. Complete righteousness for all eternity…. Freedom to enjoy our lives in harmony with our Lord and Savior.
May your week be filled with the knowledge that you are richly valued by God. And that your worth is beyond measure… and that all of this is sealed before God, by the sacrifice of his Son, so that you can stand righteous before him…. His Gift to you.
His Servant,
Jeff
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