As I write this post today, our world has been battling the coronavirus since January.  Over these weeks and months, everything familiar in the way of commerce and how we live our lives has been altered.  We are in a war, not only with this illness but with fear.  In fact, fear is likely the bigger enemy.

As Christians, God has given us a plan on how to stand against this enemy in faith and the suggestion to put on the armor of God is often heralded as part of that plan.  Let’s take a look at it:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.  Ephesians 6:10-18

When we think about putting on His armor, we often relate it to this visual.

But in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul writes this about our warfare:  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Jesus is our blueprint, our example of how we are to live the Kingdom life.  He came to fight the biggest battle this world has ever known.  What did Jesus wear?

The Jews were expecting a Warrior, a Conquering king.  They shouted, “Hosanna, Hosanna,” Save Us, Save Us.  But He didn’t come that way.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.  Zechariah 9:9

You may say, “That was before the cross.”  And you are right, but let’s see how He is dressed when He returns.

 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.      Revelation 19:11-16

What is the robed garment He is wearing?

 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make sashes for them. And you shall make hats for them, for glory and beauty. ⁴¹ So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests. ⁴² And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs. ⁴³ They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.  Exodus 28:40-43

These are simple garments without ornamentation.  The priests all wore white linen and the High Priest did the same when He went into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.

The only difference noted is that the robe was dipped in blood–not from warfare, but His own blood shed for each of us. So, His robe will likely resemble this instead:

 

Thus, we can see, that His armor is not that of a Roman warrior, but the garment of a priest.

With this in mind, I am going to take this week to display what the armor is that God wants us to put on.  It isn’t your typical military garb but rather a Kingdom way of living.  I believe those of you who faithfully ‘put on the armor’ every day, naming each piece and seeing its protection, will gain a fresh perspective.  Check back tomorrow as we look at the belt of truth.

Shalom ♥