Armor of God: Shoes of Peace by Cynthia Greene & Sara Beth
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” (Ephesians 6:11, 15)
Sandals of the Gospel of Peace
The sandals, or shoes, that a soldier wears are very important during a battle. They keep him stable so he doesn’t slip or fall. Specifically, Ephesians 6:15 states that we are to have our feet “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace..” The word preparation conveys being prepared, equipped, and ready to move when given orders.
God calls us to be spiritually prepared at all times. To be ready to stand firm against the invisible enemy and ready to share the hope we have within us.
“ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…” (1 Peter 3:15)
As believers, we are called to be the salt of the earth, a light in the darkness, an example to others, and to share the Gospel of Peace. The Gospel begins with the truth that God does and has always existed (John 1:1), that He gave his Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16), that He was resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:5-6), and that Christ will return (Acts 1:11).
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
When the enemy attacks us with fear, confusion, anxious cares, or discouragement, we can stand in the peace of God, the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Walking in the Gospel of Peace
Shoes are made for walking. After we put them on, we are not to stand still. We are called to walk in obedience to God through acts of service and good works for others. This is how we bring His peace into the lives of others.
Our actions show our obedience to God. The Gospel is lived out through kindness, gentle words, patience, forgiveness, compassion, and helping those in need.
Jesus gave us the example showing us that He walked among the hurt, rejected, unloved, weary and broken. He comforted, healed, fed, washed feet, and laid down His own life for others. As His followers, we are called to walk out our life with the same love, compassion, and service to others. When we go out into the world in obedience to God, we become ambassadors of Christ, bringing hope, truth, and the love of God through our words and deeds.
How to Put on the Sandals of Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Pray for the sandals that God supplies. Ask Him to prepare your mind, heart, and thoughts towards loving and serving others. Remain focused on God, not yourself. Be available. God uses one-on-one contact to spread the Gospel. Be available for God to work in you and through you. Be available for others, develop relationships as God leads you, walk the life, love others.
Pride and the need for admiration or validation of others is the opposite of the Gospel of Peace. Pride leads us to focus on ourselves and what we have done. The enemy sows seeds of rejection causing us to doubt ourselves and not see ourselves through the eyes of God. Focus on who you are in Christ, not who you are in the eyes of others.
Pray that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and that it directs our path. The lives of others are affected by us whether we obey or resist the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Pray that you will see the people in your life that you can serve, encourage, pray for, comfort and do good works for (see 2 Timothy 2:25-26).
Be a Blessing to Others
Will you embrace opportunities to serve others, or look away when you see a need? Will you help others? Step in and take care of the situation? What situations is God calling you to respond to?
How should we respond to undesirable, unimportant, overlooked, difficult or unpopular people and situations?
What example did Jesus set for us?
Jesus showed compassion and love to all and He was criticized and mocked.
As believers, we are called to step out of our comfort zone, stand in the gap, to serve and help others with humility, compassion, and love. To see all people as children of God that He loves and cares for. God will place people in our path that you can make a difference for. Act on what God prompts you to do for others. Don’t hide your gifts or talents away. Notice opportunities to serve, give and love others. So, after you put your shoes on, walk. Do something. Give of your time, money, or resources. Quietly and graciously obeying God.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)
Our responsibilities are the same, no matter what our feelings are or other’s opinions. Do everything for God’s sake, and for His glory, not to call attention to yourself. Ask God to use you in His service. To live in Him, that our works be done in Him. Approach each day with the heart of a servant. Offer your life as a living sacrifice to God and others, following Christ’s example. Listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit—how to think, what to say, how to act. Filter everything through the Word! This keeps you stable.
Focus on loving others—not yourself. Whatever you do for another, you do it to Christ as well. God’s love flowing through us to others is a powerful testimony showing God’s heart and character. Make room for others in your life. Only entertain thoughts that put God first. Your success has nothing to do with others. It has everything to do with your relationship to Jesus Christ.
One day we will all stand before Him in the final judgement.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” (Philippians 2:3)
Loving Others
Loving others shows our obedience, love, and reverence to God. Be a person of quiet dignity who lives under God’s grace—embracing others in spite of how unworthy or unlovely they are in the public eye. Your timely acts of kindness can lift others up. Minister grace to people who don’t inspire you to acts of kindness. That’s grace and compassion. Grace will bring conviction to their heart more quickly than a rebuke.
Think of someone right now—someone particularly unlovely—and decide today how you can embrace them. Be creative. Be specific. Find a way to express kindness to them in something you say or do. Then do it.
The Kingdom of Light advances in good deeds done in humility to God. The real progress comes by your small acts of obedience such as speaking a loving word, helping an injured person, forgiving someone who has offended you, teaching your children, or explaining your faith. The Gospel of Peace is exemplified whenever we walk in obedience to God and honor Him in how we respond to others. Be a force for good in a world of evil. A person of integrity in a world of hypocrisy. Be part of the answer, not part of the problem. Have an attitude of compassion and intercession towards sinners. To not be judgmental or overwhelmed by their sin.
Be diligent and trust God. Release your will and accept His. Your actions and the motives behind them are visible expressions of Christ to others. All glory goes to God. Only God is worthy and deserving of praise and honor.
Putting It All Together
“… and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” (Ephesians 6:15),
God did not call us to stand still, remain silent, or hide our talents. He called us to walk daily in obedience, be a light to the world and reflect the Gospel of Peace as we show hope, mercy, and compassion, share the truth, and do good deeds.
Putting on the sandals of the Gospel of Peace prepares us to participate in God’s work in our out daily life. As we serve, forgive, encourage, and love others we are a testimony of God’s peace working with us.
This is how the Gospel of Peace flows out into the world.
How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation… (Isaiah 52:7)
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