Skip to main content

The Belt


           Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, (Ephesians 6:13-14a)
  
          Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) 

          In today’s passage, notice first that putting on the armor doesn’t result in our winning. It results in our standing. The victory has been won, but that doesn’t mean the battle is over from our perspective. Keep in mind from what has been said recently: victory or loss for us doesn’t involve doing anything to the enemy. We don’t do damage to the flesh, other people, the world, or the devil. We may frustrate the plans of one of those, but the goal isn’t to demonstrate our power. It is to remain with God, to come through the struggle without being separated from Him, and, if possible, to draw someone else nearer to Him. Those two things are victory for us. That is why submitting to God is the means by which we resist the devil. He’s trying to pull us away.
           Notice secondly, that the first piece of armor is the belt of truth. Truth is the first means by which we must defend ourselves. It’s not Wonder Woman’s golden lasso which forces others to tell the truth, it’s a belt. Roman soldiers wore belts primarily to keep their sword conveniently at hand. I think they also wore them as added protection for their bowels. In addition, as those who lift things know, a belt can help stabilize muscles so that you can lift without hurting yourself.
           According to the ancients, the bowels were the seat of the emotions. Therefore, truth is what holds our weapons (we’ll get to that.) Truth is what protects our emotions. Truth also holds our emotions in check and stabilizes and supports them. Our emotions don’t protect us. Our feelings do not determine truth. We are stronger and less likely to hurt ourselves when we allow ourselves to be limited by truth just as the person using the lifting belt is. Truth is what should contain, direct, and support our emotions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more