Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, March 21, 2016
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (Ephesians 6:14).
As we said in our opener yesterday, the battle in which we are all enlisted is fierce. The stakes are high and casualties are many. If we hope to be victorious, we must use heavenly armor. The battle is supernatural; therefore, victory must be also.
It is interesting that Paul would begin his description of the heavenly armor with our loins being belted in with truth. You will find all sorts of articles and great commentary with the armor context that explain how this part of the equipment ties the entire armor together. However, I would like to focus our attention slightly differently. I like how the KJV says, “loins” rather than simply saying that we should have a belt around our waist. It signifies, in part what area is also being protected. To the Hebrew mind, the loins held the key to posterity. That is, from one’s loins came generations of people. From the loins were born kings, queens, and all of those who would represent the family line. I don’t know if your realize this or not, but one thing the devil cannot do is procreate. He can cause people to lose focus of God, and generations of people could choose to live according to that evil mindset, but that’s it. But human beings are given the privilege to literally procreate after our kind. This is a heavenly quality.
What if your power to procreate and your power to be creative in all you do were protected by truth? What if your children, and your children’s children were fully guarded against evil? What if all that you did on a daily basis that required any level of thought or creativity were first passed through the filter of truth? What would be the fruit? While evil people influence their children to do evil, and dream up ideas of ways to lie, cheat, steal, scam, tap into people’s rage, and cause havoc, the people of God whose creativity and power to procreate are safely belted in by truth, bear fruit that resembles the seed from which it was born.
What is truth? The Bible teaches that the Word and Ten Commandments are truth (John 17:17; Psalms 119:151). Do the Scriptures have anything else to say about truth? Let’s see. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). So, the Word is truth. The Ten Commandments are truth. More importantly, Jesus Himself is the Truth!
I will ask you again, “What if all that you did on a daily basis that required any level of thought or creativity were first passed through the filter of truth?” Do you get the picture? If all we are and all that we do are moderated, informed, and inspired by Truth, we are safe! If all we are and all that we do are moderated, informed, and inspired by Truth, the fruit or outcome will be a product of its heavenly origin!
In all you do today, try to have a special focus on the fact that your Jesus is willing to undergird all of your thoughts, intentions, and activities. He is there to protect the essence of who you are, and the power of your influence and creativity. Is your armor on?
