Series: Battle Ready

Within a suit of armor, the breastplate protects vital organs from attack and injury. Paul uses this example to remind the church of Ephesus to protect and guard themselves with the Breastplate of Righteousness. Righteousness, or right living, is first and foremost a gift from Jesus. When we act, talk, and think in line with the Bible and God’s commands, righteousness protects us from attack and begins to transform our lives. We are called by God to be made new creations, transformed by the Gospel, and trade our desires for God’s.

Today we dive into the first piece of the armor of God – the Belt of Truth. This small and strange piece of armor does more than we realize. Truth brings us stability and strength, supporting and holding us together amid life’s battles.

Our struggles are not just physical but spiritual, as we battle against unseen forces of darkness. Spiritual attacks often come before breakthroughs, bringing confusion, lack of peace, temptation, and the urge to quit. However, victory is possible through Christ when we use the right spiritual weapons: the power of Jesus’ name, the truth of God’s Word, agreement in prayer, and the strength of praise and worship. Stand firm in God’s strength—He is for you, and victory is yours!

Paul, writing to the thriving Christian community in Ephesus, emphasizes the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of relying on God’s strength. He urges believers to recognize their true enemy and stand firm by putting on the full armor of God. We have a part to play in this fight, and we can stand knowing that God has already won the battle.