Ephesians 6:13-17 – Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, that having done all, you may be able to stand your ground. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, watchful with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
We continue hearing impassioned pleas concerning the lack of protective gear available to medical personnel and first responders as they care for the coronavirus-infected. Depleted supplies of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and medical face masks have similarly left the general public more vulnerable against the pandemic.
As Christians, we know that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare far more dangerous than any physical threat. Thankfully, the protective gear, entirely effective, has been abundantly supplied for us in Christ.
Putting on each of the articles of the armor of God represents standing upon and employing what we securely have in Christ: truth, righteousness, peace with God, Holy Spirit-wrought faith, salvation, the Spirit-empowered Word of God, and Spirit-inspired prayer. To put on the armor of God is fundamentally to trust in what Christ has done and secured for us. It is only derivatively what we do in response.
Thus, to put on the belt of truth is primarily to be reminding ourselves that Jesus Christ is and speaks the absolute truth to us, while the voices of spiritual darkness lie and deceive. Secondarily, it is to be truthful ourselves. But our security is not found in our being morally truthful, but in Christ’s truth, to which our truthfulness is a response.
Similarly, to put on the breastplate of righteousness is fundamentally to be remembering that, through faith in Him, we are covered with the very righteousness of Christ. Secondarily, it is to live righteously ourselves. But our security will never lie with our own righteousness, rather in Christ’s righteousness on our behalf, of which our own righteous living is an expression.
As careful as we are all being against the threat of the coronavirus, are we being as protective against our greatest danger? Jesus Christ has provided all the protection and security we need to be not just spiritual survivors, but “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37)! Remember, too, that we fight not just for ourselves, but for one another–“Pray at all times in the Spirit…for all the saints.”
With whom will you pray today and wield the armor of God against the spiritual assaults mounting against you?