Thursday's Blog - Righteousness

Thursday's Blog - Righteousness

Thursday’s Blog – Righteousness

If you were a calendar… your days would be numbered!

Okay, you didn’t like that one. Why can’t a bicycle stand on its own? Because it is two tired!

No doubt you did not like that one either… but those new corduroy pillows I bought are making headlines!

Okay… enough already!!!

Bible Challenges and Comments

In Ephesians 6 the apostle Paul describes six pieces of armor (1) a belt, (2) a breastplate, (3) a pair of shoes, (4) a shield, (5) a helmet and (6) a sword. No doubt you know this passage of scripture very well as these are often spoken of from the pulpit. Having this armor on should have a very real meaning to us, but I sometimes think that in our morning devotions and preparations of the day we become complacent about the seriousness of our life in Christ.

(1)   The belt as Paul shares is a belt of “truth” not only biblical truth, but also being truthful in all aspects of life.

(2)   The breastplate as the apostle continues is the armor of “righteousness” not being offensive with being right all the time; but by allowing the “righteousness of Christ” to control you.

(3)   The shoes as he describes are shoes of the good news of “peace” one shoe = peace with God, while the other shoe = peace with mankind.

(4)   The shield, the apostle says that the shield is “faith” faith in God and the bravery of walking by faith in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

(5)   The helmet as Paul relates is the covering of protection that God give eternal life; the confidence of being a child of God and this confidence is witnessed by those who know you.

(6)   The sword as Paul continues is all we need to defend the testimony that God saves through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. We must be willing to live the resurrected life not only in the sanctuary but also in the grocery store.

If we fail to take serious the battle faced; which is moment by moment, we will suffer defeat. The armor is not a daily donning and then forget it, but a constant need for battle. Physical armor of this kind would be very weighty, between 50 and 75 pounds of excess weight to carry. In many cases this armor was worn while resting so it is not just for eight hours or while you are active, but even when you sleep.

Now let me also add our daily chaffing and burdens of life, family issues, financial issues, health issues and the list can go on.

The armor that the Apostle Paul describes is “Spiritual Armor for spiritual conflict” and the burdens of life are “life verses conflict in the mind” both the conflicts and the burdens fight for victory. How do we carry all of this potential weigh? Our physical nature cannot handle excess weight and neither can our mind and spirit; the breaking point is very real.

Looking at Matthew 11:20-30 another familiar passage. The people of this time were impenitent; their cities were full of idolatry like Tyre and Sodom and yet Jesus says that the judgment of these cities in the Day of Judgment would be more tolerable for these than the judgment coming on Capernaum, the city where Jesus is speaking. 

Individually, community and nationally we carry the heavy burden of coveting and idolatry; these are the national sins of Israel so why should we think that we are better than Israel. No not for a moment believe we are better off than Israel. Therefore Jesus Christ can and is the ONLY ONE who is able to say: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

If we allow ourselves to focus on the physical problem or one segment of the spiritual solution; like just a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, a pair of shoes, a shield, a helmet or a sword; and are not moment by moment thinking of the whole armor we are missing the mark.

Jesus says “Take my yoke upon you and learn FROM Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And the Apostle Paul gives further instruction. Romans 13:11-14. Verse 14 – but put on the LORD Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Therefore Jesus Christ is: TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION AND THE LIVING WORD. And without Christ we have NONE of the above.