Yesterday, we looked at how to put on the third important piece of the Armor of God--the Gospel of Peace Shoes, which give you, the believer, protection on the rocky battlefield of life, preparation for the path God has planned for you, and purpose/mission to live out your salvation and lead others to Jesus.
Today, let's look at what you can do if the laces of your gospel shoes get loose. That may sound a bit silly, but can you imagine a Roman soldier putting up his hand and saying, "Hang on a minute while I lace up my sandals"? No, for by that time, he'd be toast!
The laces of our gospel of peace shoes get loose when we "play church." That's when we merely put in our time at church, once a week (if that), but the rest of the week we don't think much about the Lord, or spend time in the Word or in prayer. We are still saved, but we're inactive in Kingdom work, leaving the soul winning to the missionaries and preachers. II Timothy 3:5 says about us, "They will act religious, but they reject the power that could make them godly."
Another reason our gospel of peace shoes can get loose is that Jesus could say to us, "'You don't love Me or each other as you did at first'" (Revelation 2:4). We go from relationship to ritual. The Christian walk gets lifeless, when that happens.
Revelation 2:4 goes on to give Jesus' answer to the problem of loose laces in one's gospel of peace shoes. "'Turn back to Me and do what you did at first.'" If you feel you've lost your way, go back to the place where your spiritual walk was deep and fulfilling. What were you doing then that you're not doing now? Put those things or activities back into your life. Start with repentance, so you know you've been forgiven and given a clean slate.
Satan wants nothing more than to loosen the laces of your gospel shoes. He knows that if he can keep you from being a testimony in word and deed, he will have snatched away a great weapon. No matter your calling or gifting, your purpose is that of every other believer...to know Christ and to make Him known.
If you begin to walk in sin, your "feet" will swell, and your gospel shoes won't seem like such a good fit anymore. There will come a time of great decision, which will result in the difference between "no peace" or "peace." You will choose either to remove your shoes or to repent. It is the latter which restores your feet, to fit the Gospel of Peace Shoes, to tighten the laces, to get you back into the Game of Living for the Lord, and to walk out your salvation, bringing the Good News to others, once more.
John 16:33 [NIV]
"'I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.'"
What this has to do with weight loss: If Satan can't get at you any other way, he will use food to try to defeat you. Through Jesus, though, you have the power to overcome all sin, even the sinful habit of overeating and every temptation that will come to you. You are not alone, but you must decide to yield to the Lord.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, help me to keep the laces of my gospel shoes, and my relationship with You, tight. Nothing else matters, and nothing else will be good if our relationship is suffering. May I always put You first. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen."
Go forth today, with your Gospel of Peace Shoes on, laced tightly, and living out your marching orders, making an eternal difference in the lives of precious souls.
Showing posts with label Rev. 2:4-5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rev. 2:4-5. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #68 [God's Armor--Breastplate of Righteousness, Part III]
Last time, we looked at how to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness by consciously being obedient to God and submitting to the leading and power of the Holy Spirit so that sin will have no dominion over you. Today, let's look at what to do if you get a kink/chink in your Breastplate of Righteousness.
When I awoke this morning, I asked God to bring to mind one verse that would sum up why/how we allow a kink in our Breastplate of Righteousness. Immediately, Jeremiah 2:32c came to mind. It is a verse that, the first time I read it, reduced me to tears. It says, "My people forget Me days without number." That's how we get a kink in our Breastplate of Righteousness, really in every part of our Armor. We forget God. We forget His Word. We forget to put into practice what we have learned.
On the battlefield of life, the enemy, the "accuser of the brethren," will try to bring up your past, but your Breastplate of Righteousness will be your defense. The Spirit of God dwells in you, as a believer, so God receives you as His son or daughter, no matter what Satan says. Forget that, and you will have a kink in your breastplate. An amazing thing about God, though, is that the moment you remember, the breech will be repaired.
Yes, you are "accepted in the Beloved," but that does not mean that your Heavenly Father is indifferent to your sin or regards it lightly. When you sin, a crack appears in your Breastplate of Righteousness, and, as a loving father corrects his child, so the Lord will correct you (Hebrews 12:5-11). Submit to and learn from the correction, and the crack in your breastplate will disappear.
Sometimes, a believer gets complacent and forgets their "first love," when he/she first met Jesus and desired to live a life of holiness, following hard after God. That believer still has on his/her Breastplate of Righteousness, but it's not completely strapped on, and, because of that, there are some areas exposed that need to be covered so the enemy doesn't get a firm hold. If this happens to you, "repent and do the things you did at first" (Revelation 2:4-5), and your loose breastplate will be firm and tight on you once again.
Finally, remember that you do not stand on your own merits. You never did. You never had anything worthwhile in yourself to offer to God. When you came to Christ, you quit trying to be good enough to please God. What pleases God is simple obedience to His Word, and the righteousness we display when we're preoccupied with that obedience will overwhelm the enemy every time.
Galatians 3:6
"'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'" (Genesis 15:6)
What this has to do with weight loss: Just when we think we've got the battle of weight loss defeated, we suffer a setback. Perhaps we were complacent, perhaps we became prideful--thinking that we did it. No matter the reason for the problem, the answer, the solution is to go back to basics. Don't just believe in God, believe Him. Believe in, claim, and put into practice His Word. Do that, and you will see your weight issues line up with God's Word.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, my Breastplate of Righteousness is too important to allow it to become loose or develop a kink or chink. I desire holiness, and I ask You to make me aware the moment there's the tiniest crack in my armor. My prayer is that I will instantly allow You to heal me, so the enemy can't get to me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, with your Breastplate of Righteousness firmly strapped on, showing the righteousness that comes from a changed life in Christ, and fulfilling the orders of your Heavenly Commander.
When I awoke this morning, I asked God to bring to mind one verse that would sum up why/how we allow a kink in our Breastplate of Righteousness. Immediately, Jeremiah 2:32c came to mind. It is a verse that, the first time I read it, reduced me to tears. It says, "My people forget Me days without number." That's how we get a kink in our Breastplate of Righteousness, really in every part of our Armor. We forget God. We forget His Word. We forget to put into practice what we have learned.
On the battlefield of life, the enemy, the "accuser of the brethren," will try to bring up your past, but your Breastplate of Righteousness will be your defense. The Spirit of God dwells in you, as a believer, so God receives you as His son or daughter, no matter what Satan says. Forget that, and you will have a kink in your breastplate. An amazing thing about God, though, is that the moment you remember, the breech will be repaired.
Yes, you are "accepted in the Beloved," but that does not mean that your Heavenly Father is indifferent to your sin or regards it lightly. When you sin, a crack appears in your Breastplate of Righteousness, and, as a loving father corrects his child, so the Lord will correct you (Hebrews 12:5-11). Submit to and learn from the correction, and the crack in your breastplate will disappear.
Sometimes, a believer gets complacent and forgets their "first love," when he/she first met Jesus and desired to live a life of holiness, following hard after God. That believer still has on his/her Breastplate of Righteousness, but it's not completely strapped on, and, because of that, there are some areas exposed that need to be covered so the enemy doesn't get a firm hold. If this happens to you, "repent and do the things you did at first" (Revelation 2:4-5), and your loose breastplate will be firm and tight on you once again.
Finally, remember that you do not stand on your own merits. You never did. You never had anything worthwhile in yourself to offer to God. When you came to Christ, you quit trying to be good enough to please God. What pleases God is simple obedience to His Word, and the righteousness we display when we're preoccupied with that obedience will overwhelm the enemy every time.
Galatians 3:6
"'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'" (Genesis 15:6)
What this has to do with weight loss: Just when we think we've got the battle of weight loss defeated, we suffer a setback. Perhaps we were complacent, perhaps we became prideful--thinking that we did it. No matter the reason for the problem, the answer, the solution is to go back to basics. Don't just believe in God, believe Him. Believe in, claim, and put into practice His Word. Do that, and you will see your weight issues line up with God's Word.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, my Breastplate of Righteousness is too important to allow it to become loose or develop a kink or chink. I desire holiness, and I ask You to make me aware the moment there's the tiniest crack in my armor. My prayer is that I will instantly allow You to heal me, so the enemy can't get to me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, with your Breastplate of Righteousness firmly strapped on, showing the righteousness that comes from a changed life in Christ, and fulfilling the orders of your Heavenly Commander.
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