Equity

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
EQUITY
Eph 6:14-16
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
NIV
So now after being truthful with myself and with God, I have been given, as part of his protective armor, a breastplate of righteousness. I do think it is interesting in that the Greek word used here has a twofold meaning. I wonder if God desires for this breastplate to be applied to my character or my position. This word means in the human sense equity of character having a freedom from bias or favoritism. Or does he mean I am justified, that his breastplate of righteousness is my justification. I can’t help but think it is the first meaning in the sense the devil would like nothing more than for me to be a bias person with favoritism for some, or prejudices against others. This would be one of his schemes, his attacks against my very being. For me to act in a different manner toward some people, to treat some people better then I treat others. To even treat myself better then I treat others would be in a certain sense having bias. It definitely would not be righteous or have anything to do with righteousness. No, the more I contemplate this, the more I am convinced it is all about having an equitable character free from bias. It is his character and Satan cannot win over God, thus God has provided me with the protection over my heart against those attacks. God has given me his protection, his righteousness, his equity of character, his freedom from bias as my breastplate. But I must put it on, I must desire to have my heart protected and my inner being free from bias as well. I cannot take his breastplate and then go on treating some, treating myself, showing favoritism to one, or me over another. I must see each person as God does. I must treat each person as God does. I cannot allow my prejudices to override my actions, although I am afraid there are times when they do. How can this be, if I am wearing his breastplate? Maybe I simply take it off or forget to get dressed in the morning. Maybe I should post all the armor I am suppose to put on over my mirror I shave in, then I can remember. But maybe I want to forget, maybe I like have prejudices. Maybe they make me feel better than others, but that is wrong, wrong, wrong! No, I must not think more highly of myself then I ought to. I must wear all the armor, every last bit of it. I want to, I need to.