At the start of our devotional journey this year, we uncovered God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and explored the Helmet of Salvation—our foundational assurance in Christ. Now, it's time to embrace the next vital piece of God's gear: the Breastplate of Righteousness. But what exactly does righteousness mean, and how can we practically wear it daily? If the idea feels abstract or a bit distant, don’t worry—let’s unpack it together and discover how transformative and essential this protection is in our lives.
Jesus provides us with an encouraging starting point: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6, NIV). To capture the beauty and simplicity of this promise, we can rephrase "blessed" as "how good life is." Imagine this: "How good life is for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness or a certain lifestyle, because they will be truly satisfied." In simple terms, righteousness involves maintaining right and "equable" relationships—with God, with others, and with creation itself. Now, you might wonder: "Did he mean 'equitable'?" Actually, "equable" is intentional, chosen to breathe fresh meaning into our spiritual understanding. It describes relationships marked by good tension (not stress), peace, and consistency—what we might call wisdom in action.
Let me illustrate "equable" with a new special memory. Imagine walking alongside me and my granddaughter Lilly-pad on our first beach adventure together in sunny Southern California, which happened last week during a Disneyland trip I took with my family. The day after visiting the Magic Kingdom, it’s an afternoon where the sun gently warms our faces—not scorching, but perfectly comfortable. A soft ocean breeze refreshes us, blending salty air with warmth. Beneath our feet, the sand is pleasantly warm, and gentle waves rhythmically soothe the shore. Lilly's joyful laughter echoes as dolphins leap gracefully in the distance, moving with peaceful elegance, perfectly proportioned with their surroundings. Yes, this just happened!
This peaceful scene encapsulates what it means to live equably—a life characterized by harmony, moderation, and steadiness. Imagine experiencing such harmony in your spiritual journey, your relationships with others, and your care for God’s creation. It's a truthful, beautiful, sound, and harmonious way to live, and it's within your reach. It must be your life target if you expect to attain the way, truth, and life of a child of God who reaps the promise of a good life (John 14:6).
Biblically, living equably means walking humbly, practicing justice, and loving mercy (Micah 6:8). It aligns our hearts consistently with God's character, reflecting His impartiality and goodness toward everyone and everything (Romans 2:11). It invites us to foster relationships defined by fairness, integrity, and thoughtful stewardship of our world.
As we journey into this new series on "The Breastplate of Righteousness," I warmly invite you to pursue an equable life—a life protected and enriched by harmonious relationships with God, each other, and all creation. Let’s discover together how wearing this piece of God's armor can transform our everyday experiences into truly satisfying and flourishing ones.
Are you ready to embrace this equitable way of life? Let’s don the Breastplate of Righteousness properly and thrive together! Next, we'll explore how the Breastplate represents Jesus’s character and the divine wisdom that safeguards the love and joy of life.
Until then, stay salty and shine bright!
Pastor Drake
To enjoy more of Drake’s content and conversations, CLICK HERE to connect with his podcast, “Just Sayin’ with Pastor Drake.”