Dress for Strength Not Style (Ephesians 6:14-15)
- Candice Watters
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:14-15
Paul’s metaphor in our passage this week feels relatable because getting dressed is something we do regularly. Here he cloaks cosmic realities in everyday experience.
It makes me think of my high school dress code: modest skirts and dresses for the girls, slacks and collared shirts for the boys. One morning I came to the breakfast table wearing a skirt and blouse with a belt—a really big belt. My dad took one look and said I had to change. The belt was oversized and showy, more suited to a Friday night social gathering than the classroom. “It’s just a belt,” I said. But he saw through my protestation. My main concern, he knew, was drawing attention to myself and impressing my friends.
That’s still a temptation. Women everywhere feel pressure to look a certain way. It’s easy to focus most each day on the clothes we’ll wear. What’s more abstract is giving attention to spiritual garments. How encouraging that Paul’s instruction to put on truth is the very thing that helps us dress to the glory of God
This is just one example of how the armor of God outfits us for spiritual maturity in things large and small in our present evil age (Galatians 1:4). Here Paul urges all believers to attend to the unseen. That’s because spiritual armor is what equips us to withstand the attacks of the evil one, including the temptation to believe our worth is measured by anything other than Christ.
Paul says to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of gospel readiness. These are the unseen garments that adorn us with strength to endure in the evil day.
Our ability to stand–to not give in to temptation–flows from having put on truth, righteousness, and gospel readiness. In order to resist the schemes of the devil, we need to know and understand and trust what God has said in His word–that’s fastening on the belt of truth. It comes to us as we read, study, and meditate on His Word daily.
Because “all we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6), we need a righteousness we can’t obtain on our own. This is what we receive when we’re united with Christ by faith (Philippians 3:9). Rejoicing in and holding fast to Him is putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
Because we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) we need to be reconciled to God and to others by way of the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 2:14-16). Once we are redeemed, the Spirit makes us eager to share this good news with others (Matthew 28:18-20). That’s the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
It’s necessary to put on clothes suited to each day’s work, but even more essential is putting on our spiritual garments. In high school, I needed to give attention to more than my accessories. I still do. Then and now, what matters most is putting on the whole armor of God.
For Reflection
To what do you typically give your attention first thing in the morning?
How does Paul’s use of clothing metaphors apply to how you put on the armor of God each day?
Ask the Lord to show you new ways to put on His armor this week as you meditate on these verses.
Candice Watters is the editor of Fighter Verses. She and her husband, Steve, co-authored Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies. They are the parents of four grown children and one daughter-in-law.