By Josie Siler
Belts are my friends. They have a very specific job to do and they do it well…most of them anyway. My favorite belt is a Harley Davidson leather belt that is black on one side and brown on the other. That’s right folks, a reversible belt! I wear it almost every day, and you can tell. It’s starting to fall apart, and I don’t know if I will ever find another belt as perfect as that one.
When I read the first part of Ephesians 6:14, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…” I think of my perfect belt. I can stand confidently, knowing that my belt is going to hold my pants where they belong. After I finish laughing at myself, I move on to what Paul is really talking about. I wonder why the belt of truth is the first piece of spiritual armor mentioned. Is it mentioned first because it goes on first? Umm…I don’t think so!
Belts are my friends. They have a very specific job to do and they do it well…most of them anyway. My favorite belt is a Harley Davidson leather belt that is black on one side and brown on the other. That’s right folks, a reversible belt! I wear it almost every day, and you can tell. It’s starting to fall apart, and I don’t know if I will ever find another belt as perfect as that one.
When I read the first part of Ephesians 6:14, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…” I think of my perfect belt. I can stand confidently, knowing that my belt is going to hold my pants where they belong. After I finish laughing at myself, I move on to what Paul is really talking about. I wonder why the belt of truth is the first piece of spiritual armor mentioned. Is it mentioned first because it goes on first? Umm…I don’t think so!
After researching belts and armor in Biblical times I have come to the conclusion that it is mentioned first because it is the most important. In Biblical times, belts fulfilled more than one purpose. According to Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, “Truth is the band that girds up and keeps together the flowing robes, so as that the Christian soldier may be unencumbered for action.”[1] Exodus 12:11 describes how the Israelites should eat the Passover meal. “In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.”
There is another belt to consider, and that is the belt the Roman soldiers wore. It is possible, even likely, that this is the belt Paul was referring to. Remember, Paul wrote the book of Ephesians while in prison, most likely in Rome. He saw Roman soldiers every day. The belt Roman soldiers wore was a key piece of their armor. It held their armor in place, gave extra protection to the soldier, and had hooks to secure other supplies.
Below is a video that explains the type of armor Roman soldiers wore. This information will be helpful as we talk about the armor of God in the weeks to come.
There is another belt to consider, and that is the belt the Roman soldiers wore. It is possible, even likely, that this is the belt Paul was referring to. Remember, Paul wrote the book of Ephesians while in prison, most likely in Rome. He saw Roman soldiers every day. The belt Roman soldiers wore was a key piece of their armor. It held their armor in place, gave extra protection to the soldier, and had hooks to secure other supplies.
Below is a video that explains the type of armor Roman soldiers wore. This information will be helpful as we talk about the armor of God in the weeks to come.
There is no doubt that the belt is an important piece of armor for any soldier. The belt that Paul writes of is of utmost importance to us today, for it is the belt of truth. Truth is what holds our lives in Christ together. Make no mistake, the evil one is on the offensive. He is always there, ready to attack. Sometimes his attacks are outright and obvious, easy to defend. Other times the attack is more subtle; a little lie whispered in your ear. “You’re useless.” “Nobody wants to be friends with a sick person.” "You’re just being lazy.” “Who could love someone like you?” “You’re a failure.” “You’re a terrible parent.”
We all hear lies from the evil one. The problem is that we begin to believe the lies and count them as truth. Friends, don’t believe the lies! We need to take every thought captive, every word spoken to us and hold it up to the light of the truth.
We all hear lies from the evil one. The problem is that we begin to believe the lies and count them as truth. Friends, don’t believe the lies! We need to take every thought captive, every word spoken to us and hold it up to the light of the truth.
The truth is Jesus. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” “Jesus said to Him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).’”
The belt of truth is listed as the first piece of spiritual armor because it is the foundation on which all of the other armor holds together. If we don’t believe that Jesus is truth and if we don’t turn to Him when the evil one and the world tell us lies, we will not be able to stand when the battle is over. In fact, we will crumble before the battle has even begun.
My challenge to you, and to myself, is to seek the truth found in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).’”
Listen to what Jesus says to you: “You’re valuable.” “You are more than your sickness.” "I have come to give you rest.” “I love you.” “You’re a success when you follow Me.” “Out of all of the people in the world, I chose you to be your child’s parent.”
The belt of truth is listed as the first piece of spiritual armor because it is the foundation on which all of the other armor holds together. If we don’t believe that Jesus is truth and if we don’t turn to Him when the evil one and the world tell us lies, we will not be able to stand when the battle is over. In fact, we will crumble before the battle has even begun.
My challenge to you, and to myself, is to seek the truth found in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).’”
Listen to what Jesus says to you: “You’re valuable.” “You are more than your sickness.” "I have come to give you rest.” “I love you.” “You’re a success when you follow Me.” “Out of all of the people in the world, I chose you to be your child’s parent.”
Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. –Psalm 25:4-5
© June 12, 2013
© June 12, 2013
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