Via TJC
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” Psalm 89:14 (ESV)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mathew 6:33
We are looking at the Armor of God this week. Yesterday we explored Truth as the starting point, which like a belt, holds the outfit together. Today we’re looking at God’s Breastplate of Righteousness.
As physical armor, a breastplate protects your physical heart; your heart circulates blood throughout your body. Your heart is vital and if your heart stops, you stop.
The heart has other meanings in our language. To get to the “heart of the matter” is to get to its center. To encourage is literally “to take heart”.
Like the physical breastplate that protects our physical heart, our spiritual breastplate protects our spiritual heart, which pumps His right standing throughout our soul.
Right standing before God is His Righteousness, not ours. We have to choose to apply God’s righteousness and let it flow (pump) throughout our own life. Knowing God’s standards and applying it in our strength/understanding is “self-righteousness”.
What does this say to me: Starting with knowing the truth, I need to be living out the truth, with sincerity and integrity. Integrity is doing the right thing, whether I think I’m being watched or not. It’s God’s righteousness (not my self-righteousness), pumping/flowing through me.
This breastplate of righteousness is a piece of armor that each of us must consciously don anew every morning. Every morning we must choose to obey God and to act in the righteousness He has given us.
When I got up this morning, I put on my belt, and my breastplate.
Daily Battle Order: Did you start your day putting on your belt of truth? If you did not put it on then your order starts by putting it on. Secondly, resolve today to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
It is one thing to think you've been living out the truth, with sincerity and integrity. Discuss the Breastplate today with someone close to you.
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