Devotional #16: The Full Armor of God-the Breastplate of Righteousness
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…with the breastplate of righteousness in place… -Ephesians 6: 10,14 (NIV).
One of the predominant ways the Devil tries to attack us is through tempting us to sin. In Ephesians 6, Paul instructs us to that the second piece of armor needed to “stand against the devil’s schemes” is the Breastplate of Righteousness. God places a high value on righteousness. “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3 (NKJV). To paraphrase, doing the right thing first is more desirable to God than later atoning for a wrong act.
Righteousness, however, does not mean being sinless, which is impossible because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 NIV. So, how can Paul instruct us to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness if we are inherently sinful? Because Christ took our place on the cross and cleansed our sins with His righteousness. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2.
Interestingly, Meriam-Webster defines “righteous” as being “free from guilt or sin.” By being a sacrifice for our sin, Christ has freed us from guilt and sin and imputed His righteousness on us, so that we may stand before God as clean and blameless. “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:9-11 NIV.
Even though we are imperfect humans, we are still called to seek out righteousness, even though we probably will fail. Wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness by resisting sin helps us honor God and to lead others to Christ through our example. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 NIV.
Make no mistake about it, as you battle cancer or illness, Satan will tempt you to sin in his effort to completely devour you. I Peter 5:8 NIV. A few examples I have struggled with during my journey include:
· Self-pity (Job 10:1 NIV)
· Blaming God (Jeremiah 45:3 NIV)
· Anger (Proverbs 14:29 NIV; James 1:20 NIV)
· Withholding Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13 NIV)
· Failing to Trust God (Proverbs 3:5; Matthew 6:25 NIV)
How can we put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to resist the temptations of Satan? By praying to God for help, “ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV.
Of course, recognizing temptation and learning to respond righteously take practice. This reality seems to have tormented even Paul himself, as he describes in Romans 7:21-23 NIV, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” Start your practice today, by asking the Lord to help you recognize temptation and then to resist it. A short prayer for this is found in Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV:
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. Think of a temptation or sin you are struggling with. How can you put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to resist sinning?
2. Read Romans 7:14-25. What can we learn about the struggle to be righteous? Who does Paul say is able to deliver us from our sinful nature?
3. What would you say to someone who would argue that it is impossible for you to be righteous? Was Christ’s sacrifice on the cross sufficient to free you the guilt and consequence of sin?