Be Ready

. . . and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15

Someday I will love to sit down and talk to Paul.  I'm amazed at the way he can take the most complex idea and break it down - the way he creates word pictures that allow us, generations later, to completely identify and understand what he is saying.

Isn't the Armor of God just such an amazing picture?  Thinking of putting on the attributes of God like we put on clothes, shoes, battle gear - it's a wonderful analogy.

So far we've talking about worship, standing and being prepared, hold our equipment with the best of truth, and protecting our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness.  Now we come to our feet - shoes!  Now here's something I can really identify with!

I've been reading freebiblestudyguides.org and I love what they say about the shoes: "In short, shoes allow us to step freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand."  While shoes can sometimes play a superfluous role in our daily garments, in truth they also offer us protection from painful and annoying elements.

So shoes help us move forward, walk ahead.  With shoes on our feet, we can be prepared - ready - to go where He calls us to go.  It reminds me of the verse from Isaiah:  "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'”  (52:7)

Would you say that is a good summary of the gospel of peace?  I think so!  To me, the gospel of peace is simply the "good news" - that God loved the people of the world so much He sent His son, His only son, Jesus Christ.  He sent Him to deliver us from our own sinful and evil nature and desires and give us life - forever, for always, with him!

What news!  What peace!  What joy!  One of our weapons is to know and share the gospel, the living truth of our Lord!  So when we live prepared, with shoes on our feet ready to walk, and the gospel of Christ on our mouths, we can fight the enemy!