Love the Belt!

 

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”  Ephesians 6:14a

 

Yesterday we talked about the importance of standing when we are facing an attack, while holding our ground in the Lord.  Today’s passage adds an important element to our understanding of the best way to stand.  It speaks of “the belt of truth.”  The belt of truth here is symbolic of the Bible, God’s Word to us.

 While we are standing, we must do so undergirded with the truth of the Word.  When you are standing and believing God to heal your body, the truth you have buckled around your waist is the knowledge that “by his stripes you were healed.”  (Isaiah 53:4-5)  When you are standing in belief about an outstanding bill you need to pay, the truth that must be around you is the knowledge that “My God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory.”  (Philippians 4:19)  When you are standing while trying to forgive someone who has wronged you, the truth you need is the knowledge that “if we do not forgive others we cannot be forgiven.” (Matthew 6:15, paraphrase)

I am sure by now that you have the picture.  The type of truth we need to cling to varies according to the situation in which we find ourselves.  Notice that this truth is about the waist- at the center of the person.  We must let truth center us and provide the platform for our stand.

I have known of people before who take a stand on a platform not based in truth.  Perhaps they wanted a man or woman who was married and stood on verses that “if you ask anything in accordance with his will he hears you and you have what you ask of God.” (Paraphrase, I John 5:14-15)  That is not the correct application of truth and will not bear you up.  You cannot believe God to help someone else break a covenant and commit adultery.  That is why we must always look at passages of Scripture within the totality of the Word of God.  We must interpret Scripture with Scripture.  The balance to this example would be someone also knowing that the bible says “God hates divorce.” (Malachi 2:16)  And if “a man looks on a woman to lust, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

Whatever you are going through, I urge you to get into the Bible and found out what the Word says about that situation.  Once you have uncovered truth about your situation, buckle it about your waist and prepare to stand!

Dear Lord, help me to rightly divide the Word of God.  Help me to understand your truth and apply it correctly in my life that I may stand.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri