Ephesians 6:15
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Growing up in the country it was common for me to go around barefoot, especially in the summer time! There was just something about it that I enjoyed, at least until I stepped on a sharp rock, hot concrete or some bug or critter decided that my foot looked tasty. Of course if we had to go into town then we would have to prepare to go by putting on our shoes. Now that I am an adult, I rarely walk barefoot unless it is on some nice soft carpet since the bottoms of my feet are not as tough as they used to be! My feet need the protection that the shoes offer. I bet you never thought of your nike’s as armor did you!
It is interesting to see that Paul goes to the feet next. This piece of armor was also very important to the warrior. The shoes they wore had to be soft and comfortable enough to allow them to march and carry out orders, while at the same time tough enough to protect their feet and allow them to stand firm in the middle of a battle. In my time serving in the military I wore combat boots on a daily basis. Just like for the roman soldier, our military’s footwear is an important part of their uniform and allows them to fight the good fight in the defense of our nation. For the Christian, Paul calls this piece of armor the “preparation of the gospel of peace” and it not only protects us, but it allows us to carry out the great commission.
First I want to look at the foundation that the gospel gives us. Just as the warrior’s sandals would give them sure footing during the battle – our assurance in the gospel allows us to stand in the midst of storms, doubts and temptation. If the Gospel is what gives us this foundation, then it helps if we define what it is. The word gospel means “good news”. We like to hear that good things are happening, things that benefit us and make living bearable. An unexpected check in the mail is good news. The announcement of a new baby is good news. So what kind of good news are we talking about? Paul calls it the gospel of peace. Peace with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:10 says ,”“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The Gospel in a nut shell is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ. Through the Gospel we are saved, and made a child of God. In that knowledge we have our foundation in Christ and can stand in the midst of the battle.
The Second part of this we are looking at today is taking the Good News, The Gospel of Christ to the world. Our marching orders are in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This takes preparation. We need to be able to communicate the gospel to others. To share the truth that they too can have peace with God through the finished work of Christ. Do you know the gospel well enough to be able to tell others? Do you look for opportunities to tell others of Christ? I believe that our days are filled with divine appointments that God has given us to share the Good News. If we believe that there are no coincidences, then that means the each person we come across during the day is there for a reason. Perhaps that reason is for you to share the Christ with them!
Today as we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ, let us prepare for the battle by considering the Gospel of Christ and what it means to our lives. It gives us the foundation we need to stand in the day of battle. It also allows us to prepare to share this Gospel with others. Are we walking around as barefooted Christians or are we prepared to not only stand, but also move forward for Christ!
