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:
Righteousness is described as right living, the process by which we apply truth to our lives and produce conduct pleasing to God. But God’s standard of righteousness is perfect, so when we look at this type of righteousness, it can seem like wearing the breastplate is impossible! There is no way we can meet that standard on our own, and if we aren’t careful, this pursuit of righteousness can lead to a spiral of idolatry as we pursue a perfection we will never be able to attain. But this is why we need Jesus! When we trust in him as our Savior, the penalty of sin is removed and God’s own righteousness is placed on us. So you no longer need to exhaust yourself striving for perfection. Because of Christ’s gift to you, you are already completely righteous and have full access to the breastplate of righteousness for protection! How has Christ made you righteous in God’s eyes? Do you tend to struggle with perfectionism? If so, how does it impact your life? Whom do you find yourself measuring your righteousness against? How do you think knowing that you are already made righteous in Christ protects your spiritual heart?