What Are You Wearing?
From the Armor Series
“Stand therefore having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14 MEV
I stood there staring at my cellphone. A friend of mine had texted a question to me and I had no idea how to answer her. It was a simple question and it should have been easy to provide a simple answer. I stared at the glaring cursor- it seemed to mock me as it awaited my response. My friend and I had plans to attend an event together and I was really looking forward to going with her. But I couldn’t seem to get past this simple question begging for my attention.
“What are you wearing,” she asked?
The question really shouldn’t have been such a dilemma for me to answer but somehow it was. The event was weeks away and I hadn’t really given much thought to what I would wear tomorrow, much less weeks from now. I’m the type of person that dresses myself based upon the mood I’m in on that given day. So to plan my outfit weeks out threw me for a major crisis that I couldn’t give an answer for. I know – it sounds crazy.
The next piece of armor in our series is the breastplate of righteousness. What exactly is this piece of armor and how are we to use it? Our key verse gives us some insight. Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand therefore having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”
Did you see it friend? The latter part of Ephesians 6:14 says to “put on” the breastplate of righteousness.” Well, how do we do that?
We “put on” or clothe ourselves in righteous living. The definition of righteous is this: of a person or conduct – morally right or justifiable, virtuous, very good, excellent.
Righteous living should be our natural way of living life.
When a team goes out on the field to play a game, they are dressed in their uniform. Their uniform identifies them with their team. This same principle applies to us as daughters of the King. Righteous living is our uniform - it’s what identifies us with our “team”. Righteous living isn’t based upon our mood or our opinions but rather it is based on God’s expectations and standards found in God’s word.
Sweet friend, the enemy wants to derail us by tempting us to live an unrighteous life. A life that chases after the world’s version of happiness. A life based on what you want and not what God wants. When we believed in Jesus as our Savior, God gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way. The Holy Spirit’s job is to transform us into being more like Jesus as He chips away at attitudes, tendencies, thoughts, and patterns that doesn’t line up with what Jesus would think, say, or do.
We will talk more about the breastplate of righteousness in the coming days but I want to leave you with a few questions to ponder.
How are you fighting against the change that the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish in your life? What are you wearing day-in and day-out? Is living a life of righteousness difficult for you and if so, why?
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me of all the times I have gotten up and not put on righteousness. Many days I get into the rut of getting up and flying out the door without my uniform of right living on. I am guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit by not listening to Him and choosing to go my own way. Help me to spend time with you first. Show me where I need to align myself with your standards and give me the strength to stand firm in your truth. Holy Spirit, show me where I am fighting against you and what you are trying to accomplish in my life. Give me an awareness to know when I am leaning towards unrighteous living and conviction to align myself back under your leadership. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6 ESV