Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14b
The soldier’s breastplate of the Roman times was to protect his vital organs.
It was usually made of hardened slabs of leather or pounded bronze or a
combination of both. The soldier’s rank and his country’s seal were affixed to
it. It covered the soldier’s chest and stomach but not his back. So it was
designed to face the enemy, not for retreat from the enemy.
Because we are waging a war against an invisible enemy, we must always be
armed. Our breastplate is made not of heavy metal but is molded by the Spirit of
the living God to fit us properly in our inner being. Our righteousness is not a
metal front, but given by Christ to show to everyone in all our day-to-day
relationships and circumstances.
Our enemy will point out your failures and shortcomings. He will try to
convince you that you are unworthy to be a child of God. He is right. But your
relationship with God is based on Jesus’ uprightness before God, not yours. Your
sins have been wiped out. When God sees you, he sees Jesus. Stand tall before
the enemy…in your breastplate of righteousness.
Mikail Khorev, a very effective evangelist in Russia, spent many years in
prison for his continued public ministry. On one occasion his family was refused
visiting rights and sent home. When the prison guard was taunting him about it,
he replied:
“I would like to tell you that my God is fulfilling his plans through you and
will use you for our blessing. I love my family very much and being together
with them means a lot to me, but if it brings more honor to the Lord for us to
part rather than be together, then why should I insist on seeing them? If his
name is glorified more through my being in prison than through my being at
liberty, then I tell you that there is no greater joy for me than to die on this
prison bunk as a prisoner, as my father did and as many of my brothers in the
faith have done.”
Mikhail is also quoted as saying, “I have to admit to you that prison is a
very useful school for our education and for the testing of the genuineness of
our faith...I’m grateful to the Lord for this school and for his leading.”
RESPONSE: Today I put on the breastplate of righteousness…protected under
the blood of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Lord, may my breastplate of righteousness guard my heart from evil
so I will remain pure and holy in the face of trials.