Ephesians 6:14 Guard Thy Heart

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

The word righteousness appears in God’s holy word about 298 times and is need it for spiritual warfare. The definition of righteousness is living by a moral code or law, which may upset those who say a relationship with God is more important than religion. To be truthful, that is impossible, especially when standing in faith and against the devil. We already fall short of God’s glory and our righteousness compared to the Lord is like filthy rags. A better or more correct translation of Isaiah 64:6 says our righteousness is like filthy or polluted garments. So, if you and I are going to wear a breastplate of righteousness, we need a very close relationship with God. If you know the story of ancient Israel, the Hebrew Jews asked the prophet Samuel to tell God they wanted a human man to be their king. The Lord was against it, but He gave them Saul to be their king. Their reason was they wanted a visible man like other nations had.

1 Samuel 8:20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing.  

King Saul had humble, righteous beginnings, but he did not stay so humble. From the start, as soon as Saul was crowned king of Israel, his pride increased, and slowly but surely, he became his own God. King Saul’s relationship faded as he was already forsaking the first commandment. As a warrior king, Saul was victorious in many battles, so much so this pride increased more and more. Sadly, King Saul did not stand firm in righteousness with God. Even his armor did not keep him from dying in battle. Unfortunately, he killed himself, so King Saul did not love the Lord anymore, not even himself. 

1 Samuel 31: 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and pierce me through, and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was unwilling, because he was very fearful. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.  

A breastplate protects the vital organs of a human being other than the brain, which is the reason for a helmet. For you and I to maintain a relationship with the Lord, our hearts must genuinely love Him. Our lungs must continually praise Him as Lord. That is how a person is saved and has everlasting salvation. Even if a child of God dies in this world, he or she will not perish eternally. Dear brothers and sisters, if you want to stand firm against the devil’s schemes, we must keep our hearts with the Lord. God bless you all, the Lord is a warrior, and He loves you, and so do I. His humble bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.  

1 Samuel 13:13 But Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for the Lord would now have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, “Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”