December 6, Evening
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"Girt about the paps with a golden girdle." — Revelation 1:13 · KJV
"One like unto the Son of Man" appeared to John in Patmos, and the beloved disciple noted that He wore a girdle of gold. A girdle — for Jesus was never ungirt while on earth, but stood always ready for service; and now, before the eternal throne, He does not halt His holy ministry, but as a priest is girded about with "the curious girdle of the ephod." It is well for us that He has not ceased to fulfill His offices of love for us, since this is one of our choicest safeguards — that He ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus is never an idler; His garments are never loose, as though His offices were ended; He diligently carries on the cause of His people. A golden girdle, to show the superiority of His service, the royalty of His person, the dignity of His state, the glory of His reward. No longer does He cry out of the dust, but He pleads with authority — a King as well as a Priest. Safe enough is our cause in the hands of our enthroned Melchizedek. Our Lord sets all His people an example. We must never unbind our girdles; this is not the time for lying down at ease, but the season of service and warfare. We need to bind the girdle of truth more and more tightly about our loins. It is a golden girdle, and so will be our richest ornament; and we greatly need it, for a heart not well braced with the truth as it is in Jesus, and with the fidelity that the Spirit works, will be easily entangled with the things of this life and tripped up by the snares of temptation. It is in vain that we possess the Scriptures, unless we bind them about us like a girdle, surrounding our whole nature, keeping every part of our character in order, and giving compactness to the whole man. If in heaven Jesus unbinds not the girdle, much less may we on earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girded about with truth.