The Armor Of God: Breastplate Of Righteousness

The Armor of God: Breastplate of Righteousness

Bible Blast: Read Psalm 9:7-9

Stand your ground, putting on . . . the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:14

In one of my favorite movies, the hero of the film is a young peasant man attempting to join in the battle of sparring with knights born as royalty. Using long lances made of wood, the knights ride their horses as fast as they can toward each other and pound the tip of the lance directly into the other knight’s chest. This would kill a guy—and sometimes did—if it weren’t for the thick breastplate of steel that covered the knights’ torsos.

In the movie, the hero meets a girl who says she can make him a better breastplate, but when she brings it to him, it seems too flimsy because it is light and easy to wear. So she dares him to let her and her friends hang a tree trunk from some chains and drive it into his chest. He’s just dumb enough to try it, and the scene finds him flying through the air after he takes the blow. But then he laughs in disbelief and says, “I didn’t feel a thing!”

A breastplate of righteousness is just like that. It’s light and you hardly know you’re wearing it, but it’s so powerful that when Satan knocks you silly with something difficult, you’ll be able to laugh and say, “I didn’t feel a thing!”

What is it? It’s something only God can give us. You see, “righteousness” is from him. He makes us righteous. Your good deeds do not make you righteous. There’s nothing you can do to be righteous, but by God’s forgiveness you can be made righteous and get yourself some standard-issue breastplate armor.

If there is anything you can “do” to put on God’s righteousness, it would be to examine your heart daily for any trace of sin that God needs to wash away. Confess your sins to him every day and stay covered in his breastplate of righteousness.

Girl Gab: Take some time right now to confess your sin to God, and let him cover you in your own personal breastplate of righteousness. Be sure to thank God for his armor as you pray.