DRAWING NEAR
September 13
Pursuing Truthfulness
"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth"
(Eph. 6:14).
Truthfulness is the best defense against Satan's lies.
The first piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6:14 is the belt
of truth. Roman soldiers of his day wore a tunic, which was a large
square piece of material with holes for the head and arms. A belt
kept the tunic from flying loosely and getting in the way in the
midst of battle.
The phrase "having girded your loins" was commonly used for gathering
up the loose material of one's tunic or robe when preparing for
battle or travel. It speaks of preparedness, as in Exodus 12:11,
where God tells the children of Israel to gird their loins for their
exodus from Egypt. Jesus used it in a figurative sense in Luke 12:35,
where He warns us to gird our loins or "be dressed in readiness" for
His second coming. Peter said we're to gird our minds for action (1
Pet. 1:13).
The Greek word translated "truth" in Ephesians 6:14 can refer either
to the content of that which is true or to an attitude of
truthfulness. Both are implied in the verse. In Ephesians 4 Paul
combines both aspects in warning us not to be "tossed here and there
by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the
trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming" (vv. 14-15).
Instead, we are to embrace sound doctrine and always speak the truth
in love.
The way to defend yourself against the cunning deceptions of Satan is
to gird yourself with a thorough knowledge of God's Word and a firm
commitment to obedience. Yet many Christians remain vulnerable
because they're unwilling to do that.
Just as Paul exhorted the Philippians to excel in knowledge and
discernment and to remain sincere and blameless until in Christ's
presence (Phil. 1:9-10), so you must also do the same. Never be
content with your present level of spirituality. Keep learning and
growing. Demonstrate an attitude of truthfulness that reveals your
commitment to God's Word and your readiness for battle.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Is your life characterized by truthfulness? If not, you're a ready
target for Satan's schemes. Confess it to the Lord and ask Him to
cleanse your heart and give you a love for His truth. Begin today to
apply His Word to your life.
For Further Study:
Read verses 1-4 and 13-15 of 2 Corinthians 11, noting the tactics of
Satan and his servants.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Exodus 12:11
11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your
sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat
it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover.
Luke 12:35-40
35 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36 "and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when
he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they
may open to him immediately.
37 "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will
find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and
have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
38 "And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third
watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what
hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his
house to be broken into.
40 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect."
1 Peter 1:13
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your
hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ
Philippians 1:9-10
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in
knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may
be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ
2 Corinthians 11:1-4
11:1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly; and indeed
you do bear with me.
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ.
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ.
4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not
preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not
received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may
well put up with it!
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform
themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be
according to their works.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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