Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (Ephesians 6:14, NKJV)
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)
The breastplate of righteousness is a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming work of grace in the life of the believer. Picture with me a boy coming to the Lord of a great castle to seek knighthood. The rags he is wearing stand in sharp contrast to the rich tapestries of the great hall into which he walks.
The Lord of the manor hardly takes notice. Guests of the castle chuckle behind their hands. But, then a knight of honor comes and stands next to the youth. The snickers stop, and the Lord turns his attention to the pair standing before him. This knight is well known to everyone in the room. He takes his own breastplate from off his chest and places it on the lad. Suddenly everything has changed.
The Lord asks the boy to knell before him and extends his sword touching first one of the lad’s shoulders and then the other. The young man stands and is presented as the newest knight in the Lord’s court.
You and I come to God with nothing. There is no goodness in us that can earn His favor. We are orphans, outcasts dressed in rags. But, then Jesus draws near and clothes us in His righteousness and everything is changed.
That is the picture Paul is painting when he refers to the breastplate of righteousness.
Soldiers of Christ arise and put on the whole armor of God.
Stand fast!
Gird your waist with the belt of truth!
Your faith is grounded in the finished work of Christ.
You wear His breastplate!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Belt of Truth
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth . . . (Ephesians 6:13, 14 - NKJV)
A soldier needs to be able to stand his ground against the enemy’s advances. The first piece of armor the Christian soldier must take up is the belt of truth.
What is truth?
Truth is what the Bible tells us. Not what we want to hear. Not what we think others want to hear. Truth is taking God at His Word.
We live in a generation where absolutes are supposedly old fashioned and out of date. The slogan “all roads lead to Heaven” may be more politically correct but it does little to prepare soldiers for the battlefield. Weakness not strength is measured by how much we are willing to surrender.
It is possible to be loving, compassionate servants of the Cross without compromising the ground on which our faith stands.
Many Christians today are tripping over their own inability to take a stand. They are like Roman soldiers preparing for battle with their tunics flowing into the wind, tripping over the skirts of their robes because they have not girded their waist with the belt of truth.
God needs stable, steadfast soldiers who are ready to stand against the wicked one.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8, NKJV)
A soldier needs to be able to stand his ground against the enemy’s advances. The first piece of armor the Christian soldier must take up is the belt of truth.
What is truth?
Truth is what the Bible tells us. Not what we want to hear. Not what we think others want to hear. Truth is taking God at His Word.
We live in a generation where absolutes are supposedly old fashioned and out of date. The slogan “all roads lead to Heaven” may be more politically correct but it does little to prepare soldiers for the battlefield. Weakness not strength is measured by how much we are willing to surrender.
It is possible to be loving, compassionate servants of the Cross without compromising the ground on which our faith stands.
Many Christians today are tripping over their own inability to take a stand. They are like Roman soldiers preparing for battle with their tunics flowing into the wind, tripping over the skirts of their robes because they have not girded their waist with the belt of truth.
God needs stable, steadfast soldiers who are ready to stand against the wicked one.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8, NKJV)
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Blessed Resurrection Sunday
This morning as I bake my egg casserole for the Easter Breakfast at church in a couple of hours I acctualy have a few moments to reflect.
(I finally have a stove to cook on! The kitchen remodeling is plodding on into the fourth week. The countertops were cut wrong and had to be reordered, but the workermen came Thursday and hooked up my stove! After three weeks of microwave and drive through or carrry in I'm am so thankful!)
God is so good! What would our lives be like had He not drawn us to Himself and became the sacrifical LAMB on our behalf. We don't even have to go there because HE DID! This morning I pray each of you are able to attend special services or at least take time to meditate on that wonderful gift.
The writing theme for 4Him2U this month was forgiveness. We stand the most forgiven! at the foot of the Cross.
Blessed Resurrection Sunday,
Teresa
(I finally have a stove to cook on! The kitchen remodeling is plodding on into the fourth week. The countertops were cut wrong and had to be reordered, but the workermen came Thursday and hooked up my stove! After three weeks of microwave and drive through or carrry in I'm am so thankful!)
God is so good! What would our lives be like had He not drawn us to Himself and became the sacrifical LAMB on our behalf. We don't even have to go there because HE DID! This morning I pray each of you are able to attend special services or at least take time to meditate on that wonderful gift.
The writing theme for 4Him2U this month was forgiveness. We stand the most forgiven! at the foot of the Cross.
Blessed Resurrection Sunday,
Teresa
Friday, March 14, 2008
God's Armory
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan is my favorite literary work next to the Bible. It was published in 1675. Over the years several modern versions of this work have been published, but I prefer the Shakespearian English of the original.
John Bunyan understood the importance of Christian armor. He was an itinerate preacher who refused to fashion his preaching to suite the established church of England. For his resolve he spent more than a dozen years in prison. Many books came out of his confinement. The most famous being an allegory of the Christian life.
The main character was first called “Pilgrim” than “Christian”. His journey took him from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Soon after loosing his burden at the foot of the cross Christian came to a mansion designed “for the relief and security of pilgrims” where he stayed several days. His guides in the Palace Beautiful were Piety and Prudence.
The next day they took him [Christian] and had him into the armoury; where they shewed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the heavens for multitude . . . . [The next day] Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should; but first, said they, let us go again into the armoury; so the did; and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way.
Have you been to God’s armory?
John Bunyan understood the importance of Christian armor. He was an itinerate preacher who refused to fashion his preaching to suite the established church of England. For his resolve he spent more than a dozen years in prison. Many books came out of his confinement. The most famous being an allegory of the Christian life.
The main character was first called “Pilgrim” than “Christian”. His journey took him from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Soon after loosing his burden at the foot of the cross Christian came to a mansion designed “for the relief and security of pilgrims” where he stayed several days. His guides in the Palace Beautiful were Piety and Prudence.
The next day they took him [Christian] and had him into the armoury; where they shewed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the heavens for multitude . . . . [The next day] Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should; but first, said they, let us go again into the armoury; so the did; and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way.
Have you been to God’s armory?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Commissioned for Service
Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10, 11 - NKJV)
The land battle for the small island of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945, when American marines invaded a main stretch of beach near two air fields. This attach followed nearly a week of navel bombing from the sea.
The battle of Okinawa has been nicknamed “Typhoon of Steel” due to the fierceness of the fighting. This was the last of the “island hops”. Victory put allied forces on Japan’s doorstep, and the opponent wasn’t giving up easily. Over seventy-two thousand American soldiers lost their lives in six weeks of bitter conflict.
I wasn’t even born until fifteen year later, but I knew there was an island in the South Pacific called Okinawa before I could name the fifty states of America. Okinawa put a personal face on WWII for our family, because my mother’s oldest brother died there.
God commissions soldiers for spiritual warfare.
The opponent is a crafty yet defeated foe who doesn’t surrender willingly. Satan knows our souls are sealed by the blood of Christ. But, his quiver is full of arrows designed to kill and destroy. Those he cannot kill he seeks to at least wound and take out of action.
Discouragement, doubt, fear, worry, unfaithfulness, pride . . . are all effective weapons in his skillful hand.
Whenever possible, Satan advances with fatal accuracy. It has been said that the history of the church is paved in the blood of martyrs. Remember the casualties lest we forget the risk and enter the battle unprepared.
The New Testament records the stoning of Stephen and how James died at the edge of the sword. In 1536 William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English. There are places around the world where Satan continues to win such victories. But, Satan can only kill the body, not the soul.
Soldiers of Christ take courage. Our strength is in the Lord. On our own we would fail, but with the strength of the Lord we can stand firm.
The land battle for the small island of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945, when American marines invaded a main stretch of beach near two air fields. This attach followed nearly a week of navel bombing from the sea.
The battle of Okinawa has been nicknamed “Typhoon of Steel” due to the fierceness of the fighting. This was the last of the “island hops”. Victory put allied forces on Japan’s doorstep, and the opponent wasn’t giving up easily. Over seventy-two thousand American soldiers lost their lives in six weeks of bitter conflict.
I wasn’t even born until fifteen year later, but I knew there was an island in the South Pacific called Okinawa before I could name the fifty states of America. Okinawa put a personal face on WWII for our family, because my mother’s oldest brother died there.
God commissions soldiers for spiritual warfare.
The opponent is a crafty yet defeated foe who doesn’t surrender willingly. Satan knows our souls are sealed by the blood of Christ. But, his quiver is full of arrows designed to kill and destroy. Those he cannot kill he seeks to at least wound and take out of action.
Discouragement, doubt, fear, worry, unfaithfulness, pride . . . are all effective weapons in his skillful hand.
Whenever possible, Satan advances with fatal accuracy. It has been said that the history of the church is paved in the blood of martyrs. Remember the casualties lest we forget the risk and enter the battle unprepared.
The New Testament records the stoning of Stephen and how James died at the edge of the sword. In 1536 William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English. There are places around the world where Satan continues to win such victories. But, Satan can only kill the body, not the soul.
Soldiers of Christ take courage. Our strength is in the Lord. On our own we would fail, but with the strength of the Lord we can stand firm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)