Today I'm going to write on the the second thing mentioned concerning defending yourself from Satan and his demons. Paul tells us after putting on the “Belt of Truth,” we then need to put on the “Breastplate of Righteousness.” Just like for any soldier or police officer today, they wear a breastplate to protect the largest and widest part of the body from injury.
Why is righteousness associated with protective armor like a breastplate?
In Proverbs 11:4 it says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to almost certain death. With righteousness, just as with a breastplate, the fatal attacks of our enemy are given.
In Psalm 119:172 it says, “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.”
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4
Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34
Breastplate of Righteousness
To be righteous is to do what is right in God's eyes. God's commandments are righteousness. In reality, lawlessness is sin and sin is the opposite of righteousness. So to be righteous is to obey God's laws. Do you ever find yourself not obeying God's law and purposely doing what you want to do? If you continue to separate yourself from God, He will eventually withhold His protection to you.
Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear.”
To me, this is very scary knowing He will pull Himself away for our protection if we continue to not do the will of God. When I'm referring to His will, I mean in all things. The choices we make every day should line up with Godly desires. Do you ask God to give you wisdom in the decisions you make? Most people do not ask for wisdom from God, but He says He will give it to you if you ask and have faith.
I do want to point out some other scriptures such as Job 36:3; Psalm 5:8; 23:3; 24:5; and 71:16, which show that true righteousness comes from God. It is God's righteousness, and not our own, which must serve as our breastplate and defense against Satan. I hope this study has shown you how faith and love relate to righteousness. Faith works through love. Galatians 5:6 says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
In closing, 1 Thessalonians 5:8 sums it up pretty well; “But let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
I will be discussing in the next devotional how we need to get our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
God bless,
E.