EPHESIANS 6:10-20
The Whole Armor of God
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
STUDY AND REFLECT:
The soldier’s belt represents truth, and its core function is to hold and stabilize other key pieces of armor. A soldier without the belt is like a policeman without a holster. He wouldn’t have access to his sword (or other weapons) and he wouldn’t have a breastplate, leaving his chest unprotected. The belt also has the capacity to help bear the weight of the other pieces of armor. Without it, the soldier must carry the full weight of everything! Now look at the other pieces of armor and the virtues associated with them.
- Righteousness: Right living, the process by which we apply truth to our lives and produce conduct pleasing to God
- Peace: deep, inner, and eternal stability a believer possesses by way of a relationship with Jesus
- Faith: the application of what one believes, the process of putting action to God’s truth and living it out
- Salvation: our eternal security with Christ, as well as the full inheritance we’ve been given through relationship with him—blessing, status, identity, etc.
- The Word of God: His present and personal word to us for today. God’s spirit makes the Bible fresh, new, and alive for us each day!
Just like the other pieces of armor rely on the belt, so too, does Truth impact all of the virtues connected to the armor Paul describes. Looking at these virtues in light of the belt being the “hanger” for the other pieces of armor, how is each virtue impacted and affected by truth?
- Righteousness: The truth is that God’s spirit lives in me. Because of this I can live in a way that is honoring to God
- Peace:
- Faith:
- Salvation:
- The Word of God: