Ephesians 6:14 AMP

14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having [b]tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),

As a soldier out on battlefield, your armor is of utmost importance because it can and in many instances, save your life. Out in the battlefield your enemy looks out for weak spots where he can strike just in the same way that you look at him to find weak spots you can attack.

Today we are looking at the breastplate of righteousness. This is a piece of armor that was crucial because it protected the vital organs. One strike on your chest could damage your heart or lungs or other vital organs, leading to immediate death. There was no way one would go out into the battlefield without their breastplate.

In the same way, the enemy is out to attack our vital organs. Remember he wants to kill, steal and destroy. Righteousness means one who is morally right, one who is justifiable. It means one who is blameless. That is such a high standard for us to attain on our own.

Isaiah 64:6

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous … But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags.

If we were to rely on our righteousness, it would be like going out into the battle zone with a breastplate made of Styrofoam. We would be an easy target. So, how then do we put on this breastplate of righteousness?

Romans 1:17

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

We attain righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, remember He is the truth and all else has its foundation in the truth. Out on the battlefield, we boast not of our achievements and what we have done, but we boast in what Christ has done! We do this not by mere words, but by living in obedience to all that He has commanded us. That’s how we put on the breastplate of righteousness, we guard our hearts!

Reflective

• What are some of the things you have opened your heart to that are affecting your spiritual journey?
• We can only attain righteousness through Christ, who paid the ultimate price for our redemption, have you accepted this righteousness through Him by faith?
• Have you exposed your heart? Do you hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness and jealousy, sins that damage your heart?