6:15\u00a0<\/b>and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace<\/b><\/p>\n

Growing up as an athlete, I quickly learned the fundamental importance of a wide base and proper footwork. Additionally, having your feet equipped with the proper shoes made all the difference. Cleats on a basketball court were slippery, and court shoes on a football field were useless. I recall one afternoon I showed up to football practice to discover I had left my cleats at home. Needless to say, it was not a successful practice as I slipped around the field in my tennis shoes.<\/p>\n

Proper shoes made it possible to establish good footing which leads to a good base, or foundation. Choosing the proper shoe for the task at hand makes all the difference. I would not want to go to combat in sneakers, and I could not want to play soccer in court shoes.<\/p>\n

Continuing in his exhortation on the full armor of God, Paul turns his attention to the shoes in Ephesians 6:15. Written in the middle tense, the Christian has the responsibility to put on these shoes, and further walk in the identity and truth of the Gospel of peace.<\/p>\n

Centrality of the Gospel
\n<\/b>Every stable and strong physical posture must have good footing and a solid base. Written in the context of being equipped for war, this principle is even more important. In spiritual warfare, the strong base is directly connected to the Gospel.<\/p>\n

The centrality of the Gospel is paramount to a firm foundation in the battles of life. It is the Gospel that is the common thread of hope weaving throughout God’s Word. It is the Gospel that should weave into every sermon and into our everyday life. It is the Gospel that should be clearly understood and clearly communicated.<\/p>\n

It is a simple message of Good News, that God created man to have a relationship with Him; but sin entered the world through man’s choice. Sin separates us from God, and cannot be removed by any good deed that we may do. Recognized this chasm of separation, God sent His one and only Son on a rescue mission to earth so that man could be redeemed and restored in right relationship. This redemption required a perfect, blood sacrifice of atonement that Jesus willingly offered with His own life. After His death, Jesus was buried, rose again in three days, ascended into Heaven; and how sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. there He intercedes for us and is our King.<\/p>\n

Our sin has been atoned for, and we now have a right relationship with God because God has declared that we are right with Him due to Jesus’ payment for our sin. This has made peace with God.<\/p>\n

Peace holds.
\n<\/b>It is the peace that Paul connects to the shoes. Peace is often misunderstood as an emotion or feeling. In fact, peace is much more than an emotion; it is a state or condition. In warfare, once peace is arbitrated and signed it ushers in a state or season of reconciliation. This imagery is what Paul refers to that the Gospel provides for us.<\/p>\n

Readiness is established footing
\n<\/b>Being in a state of peace as a result of the Gospel work, we then should stand and walk with a confident security. We can go to battle with a strong foothold and wide base because our security and hope is not in our ability, but is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Every day when you put on your shoes, pause and be reminded that this piece of equipment is a symbol of your stable and secure footing of the Gospel for any attack from the Enemy.<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version<\/i><\/a>. (2016). (Eph 6:15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.<\/p>\n