Girt About With The Belt Of Truth

These verses speak about how the children of God can be protected by putting “on the whole armour of God” (v. 11), during our spiritual warfare (v. 12), against a relentless and powerful enemy who is determined to devour us (1 Pet 5:8). He wants to destroy our families, devastate our churches, and discredit our testimonies. However, Satan is not as powerful as our Great and Mighty God (1 Jn 4:4)! God’s armour must be “put on” and “take unto” (v. 13a). In ancient times, the Roman soldiers were equipped with similar pieces of armour to protect them during combat. They also wear a cape that is draped behind their bodies. The phrase “girt about” means to fasten one’s belt. Before a battle, the soldier would gather the cape around his body and hold it in place with a belt.

Although we no longer wear capes today, we also need to be girded up spiritually in preparation for our spiritual battles! In particular, we are to “gird up the loins of our mind” (1 Pet 1:13). The belt that we wear is a spiritual belt of “truth.” In order for us “to withstand in the evil day” (v. 13b), we must firmly stand upon “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15), with “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph 2:20) – He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6)!

This truth is found only in God’s word that we must “study” (2 Tim 2:15), so we can be sanctified (Jn 17:17). Without a working knowledge of God’s truth, we are prone to being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14). The devil is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), and he wants to lead the saints of God astray by changing “the truth of God into a lie” (Rom 1:25). But when we are girded by the truth, we can walk with Jesus in total commitment and discipline! God bless you!



 -Pastor Melito Barrera