Christian Fit Checkنموونە

The belt of truth

To prepare you to fight temptation, the apostle Paul encourages you to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14). Paul’s original Greek could either refer to a belt you could tuck your robe into so you wouldn’t trip (like a bridesmaid who holds her dress so she doesn’t face-plant during the processional) or to the thick leather “skirt” of a Roman solider that would protect his more sensitive parts.

The truth of the Bible does both of those things, preparing and protecting your soul. The Word prepares you to fight temptation by reminding you of what is good, right, and true. When you are close to losing your cool, the Holy Spirit might call to mind: “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). When you are tempted to hold on to every dollar God has given you, the Word gets you back to the truth: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

At the same time, God’s Word protects you from the “low blows” of the enemy, like when he fixates on your most embarrassing failures and whispers about how unworthy you are. That’s when the Word, centered on Jesus, protects you by assuring you that God’s grace is greater than your greatest sins.

I am grateful you are reading God’s truth today, and I hope it is part of your everyday routine. With the “belt” of the Bible to prepare and protect you, you can stand firm against the evil one!