Micah 5:2
December 17, 2024
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING – 17 DECEMBER
December 17, 2024
THE 17th OF DECEMBER
ARM YOURSELF WITH TRUTH AND THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14
We must always remain vigilant and prepared for spiritual battles, as there are no pauses in this warfare. The foundation of our spiritual armor is the truth of God’s Word. Like the Roman soldier’s belt that held his armor together and carried his sword, the “belt of truth” allows us to move freely and equips us with both offensive and defensive weapons. Merely hearing the truth is not enough; we must know it to experience true freedom, as Jesus teaches in John 8:32. When the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of Scripture to us, it becomes active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), transforming our hearts and equipping us with a mighty weapon in spiritual warfare when we proclaim it.
The “breastplate of righteousness” serves to protect our vital spiritual organs, particularly our heart. Biblically, the “heart” refers to the inner man, the spirit within a person who is reborn through the Holy Spirit when they genuinely repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Righteousness, meaning freedom from sin, is only possible through Jesus’ sacrifice. When we sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive us. When the enemy attempts to condemn us for sins we’ve already repented of, we must stand firm, knowing we are forgiven and protected by the “breastplate of righteousness.” The enemy’s accusations lose their power when we trust God’s promise to cast our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19 b), removing them forever.
SUGGESTED PRAYER
Lord, I praise You for the truth of Your Word. Thank You for making it available to me so that I can study, learn, and stand against the lies of the enemy by proclaiming Your truth. I am deeply grateful, Lord Jesus, for forgiving my sins and covering me with Your righteousness. Help me to remember that once I sincerely repent and seek Your forgiveness, my sins are gone. When the enemy tries to condemn me for my past, remind me that it is not Your voice, and help me to resist his accusations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
