WARRIORS Part II

First: the WINNER of the free book for July is: Bev T from Yorkton! Congratulations!

On July 14th I began what I’m calling the “Warrior Series”.

The belt of truth (last blog) is what everything attaches to. So, lets attach the breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:14 again: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place …” NIV

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, righteousness means:

1. acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin 2a. morally right or justifiable 2b. arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality 3. slang: genuine, excellent

A breastplate is the warrior’s way of protecting the vital organs, the heart being especially important.

I don’t know about you but I want my heart guarded. Feeling it break is awful! Example - my wee 16 year old heart that literally ached inside my chest when the young man I thought I loved broke up with me. A few years ago, when I was on the cardiac care unit with the racing heart that felt as if it might burst from my chest, is even a better example.

Yes, physically and emotionally we want and need our hearts protected, for it is in charge of our life’s blood — our very existence.

Q. How do we guard our heart? A. With the truth! And the truth of everything we can possibly need in our lives is found in one book — the Bible. If we know the truth we cannot be deceived by lies.

Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” NIV

I crave to be equipped for every good work. Do you feel that drawing toward God too?

Righteousness is a wonderful gift from God, given to us when we believe in His Son.

Of course, none of us is perfect. I am someone who is often an example of what not to do, but through Jesus’ blood I have been made righteous through Him. Not I, but because of HIM.

The way I envision this is simple —

God is the One we must all give an account to someday. This isn’t scary or something to dread. God sees us as righteous when He sees His Son, Jesus, standing in front of us. If we belong to Him, Jesus will guard our hearts. Wow!!

In the Old Testament Job was called “a good and righteous man”. Why? Because he didn’t falter when the tough (and I mean TOUGH) times came. Read that story. Poor guy -- but he still believed and followed God’s law, no matter what anyone did to him or his life circumstances. Like us, he wasn’t perfect but his heart was guarded by God.

I encourage you (and me) to read, read and read some more, to guard our hearts with the TRUTH! And then … live it out! Live it out loud!

Next time: Feet that run toward PEACE!