Every cold winter morning I put my “armor” on before heading out the door to work — My Carhartt work coat, complete with attached hood.
Every cold winter morning I am thankful for this protection from the elements that God has provided. I am encouraged to step into the challenge of another day.
And I couldn’t help but think of the armor in Ephesians 6:
Ephesians 6:14-15 ESV
(14) Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
(15) and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Sometimes we try to make the Bible so spiritual that we miss the point God is trying to make. The Apostle Paul used real world examples to express God’s truth. Here he uses the equipment of the Roman soldier.
My work jacket is like my breastplate of righteousness. I put it on for protection, and I am ready to face the challenge before me that day. I draw courage from God’s provision.
I am stumbling around a little bit here but be patient. I think I may end up making a good point. 🙂
I have written before about my boots and how it occurred to me one day that this was an example of the “shoes” in Ephesians 6.15. The primary meaning isn’t evangelism but that the shoes (the truth of the gospel living in us) enable us to walk over whatever terrain is before us and to do this in the confidence of God.
When I put on my work boots in the morning, I am prepared to walk wherever I need to go on the job that day. That is the truth of this passage.
And now back to my jacket.
We put on the coat of righteousness after the belt of truth. We don’t claim the coat or demand it; God provides the coat as we walk in truth. Just as God provided my Carhartt as I walked in the truth of being faithful to work and support my family.
So when we prepare ourselves for the day, we can let the real world examples of God’s provision give us more insight into spiritual truth.
Hmm. . .
How about those mini-wheats and toast I had for breakfast?
