Wednesday, May 8, 2013 

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Armor of God Devotion Series: Day 3 Breastplate of Righteousness

Bullet Proof

Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

I have worked for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office since the age of 16. My first assignment was working as a part-time clerk in the Personnel Division while I was still in high school.

I enjoyed working in that division because I was able to meet almost all of the nearly 400 employees of the Sheriff's Office. I am very proud of the men and women who put their lives on the line each day for our safety.

These officers are fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters. They have family members and friends who pray for their safe return home after each shift.

Thankfully, our road deputies wear protective vests. Without these vests, a potential attack could become fatal. With these vests, the very same attack is ineffective as their vital organs are protected.

Like these officers, we all have roles we play and family who depend on us and always hope for the best for our lives. God provides us with even greater protection-- the "Breastplate of Righteousness" which we are instructed to "put on" daily (Ephesians 6:14).

The Breastplate of Righteousness is designed to protect our hearts and our very lives in God. When we are protected by "righteousness" or "right-living," the attacks of the enemy lose its power.

Today's verse confirms that "righteousness delivers from death." What is righteousness? Psalm 119:172 says, "My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness."

Righteousness is doing what the Lord instructs us to do throughout His Word. So often, we live by what WE feel is the right thing to do. Proverbs 14:12 reveals that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

Just as we command our children to do things because we have a greater understanding of their safety, as the children of God, He ALWAYS knows what is best for us.

Without righteousness, we leave ourselves unprotected, open to almost certain death.

Our officers have a choice whether or not they will put that protective vest on each day. We too have a choice of whether we will "put on" the Breastplate of Righteousness.

I challenge you to protect yourselves and those you love by choosing to live by God's precious, life-saving commandments.

Dear Lord, I thank You that I do not have to live blindly or haphazardly. You provide an instruction manual in Your Word for me to succeed and survive in this world. Thank You.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.