Wearing the Righteousness of Christ

"(Stand firm then), with the breastplate of righteousness in place."
Ephesians 6:14b

As Paul observed the Roman soldier, he saw the breastplate that he wore. It was mail made of iron. The mail was made in horizontal strips that were woven to the strips above and below with iron links. all of this was sewn to a leather or fabric backing. This breastplate protected the soldier from the penetration of swords, spears, and arrows.
    The second piece of our spiritual armor is the breastplate of righteousness. It is this spiritual breastplate that protects our hearts from the onslaught of the enemy. Righteousness means "to be in right-standing with God." Therefore, we must make sure that we wear the breastplate each day. This righteousness is not our own. Our own righteousness is worthless. It does not exist. No man or woman has ever been successfully righteous on their own, except one and his name was Jesus.
    We wear the righteousness of Christ as our breastplate. We have it by his virtue, not ours. When we confess sin, he forgives us and then cleanses us from our unrighteousness. The way is made, and we have his righteousness. But we must do this each day. The Bible tells us that righteousness comes by faith. When we confess sin everyday, we believe, by faith, that our sins are forgiven and we have right-standing with God. This conscious decision allows us to put on the breastplate. Our heart is covered in righteousness and we are protected from any evil weapon that is formed against us.
    King David asked God to give him an undivided heart. I have taken up this prayer daily. I always ask God to keep me from ever looking to another person, place, or thing to find my contentment. I am only content in Jesus. There is no room for anything else to share that place. Everything else bows at the feet of God.
    Begin to regularly wear the breastplate of righteousness. You can have it by simply confessing sin and receiving righteousness. After that, make sure that you are wearing it all day long. Righteousness will keep you from sin. It will keep you focused on Jesus and sin will have no victory.
    In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn encourages his army with these words: "A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all you hold dear, I bid you, stand!" Well put, Aragorn. Today we stand with our hearts covered and our place in Christ secure.