Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14

Before reading this snippet, please read Ephesians 6:10-20

Satan is a dangerous and very powerful enemy, but we can withstand His attack (Eph 6:11) by putting on all of God’s armour (Eph 6:14-17). Each piece is essential, equally important and has a distinct purpose. The first two pieces are the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

• The belt of truth, provides stability and support, like the belt a weightlifter wears. It strengthens our core, enabling us to stand firm no matter how much we may feel overcome by Satan’s attacks. The truth is pure, imparted by God, cannot be corrupted and is what we are compelled to live by (2 Cor 13:8). This is why good soldiers wear a belt dedicated to it.

Practically speaking, wearing the belt of truth means honouring our Lord Jesus Christ for who He is and what He has done (John 1:14, 14:6, 16:13-14), thus recognising His pre-eminence and obeying His instructions.

• The breastplate of righteousness protects our vital organs (e.g., heart and lungs) and other important parts of our body, including our stomachs. It reminds us that what we breathe and eat will directly determine our capacity to express righteousness. Our Lord made this clear when he said to Satan, “’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God ‘” (Mat 4:4, Luke 4:4).

Loving believers and unbelievers is an important hallmark of wearing the breastplate. It can only be done effectively through our Lord Jesus Christ – that is, seeing them as He does (Joh 15:13).    This piece of armour is also referred to as the breastplate of faith and love (1 Thes 5:8), showing us that righteousness is only possible by having faith in God – who Himself is faithful (Deu 7:9), and loving Him with all our hearts – knowing he loves us beyond our ability to comprehend (1 John 4:9-11).

to be continued…