“Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.”
– Ephesians 6:11 AMPC
Can you imagine running a marathon in a pair of six-inch stilettos? That’s a sure recipe for disaster, isn’t it? Our footwear often reflects and prepares us for whatever tasks we are set to do in it.
We have been studying the armour of God, and today we are continuing that study by looking at the shoes of the Gospel. Paul writing to the church in Ephesus says,
“and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].” – Ephesians 6:15 AMP
After he had asked them to gird up with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, he then asks them to strap on the “shoes of the gospel”. When we believe the Gospel, like footwear, it conditions us for the race ahead. In the Gospel, we not only receive a message to believe but also a mandate to fulfil.
Paul puts it this way:
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him… So, we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:18, 20 (NLT)
If we truly believe that the Gospel is the only way to salvation, then we also truly believe that every other person who doesn’t believe the Gospel is condemned to eternal separation from God. This bestows upon us a readiness, zeal, and urgency to fight the good fight of faith(1 Timothy 6:12).
We must be ready to pull down the schemes and deceits of the devil in wrong doctrines, false gospels and every type of falsehood that stops people from seeing the light in the glorious Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
We do this by equipping ourselves with the accurate knowledge of the Bible in personal studies and by attending a good church where the truth of God’s word is taught and we share this knowledge in evangelism and in teaching others the accurate Word of God. We also don’t forget to fervently pray for the spread of the Gospel.
Dear believer, have you strapped on the Gospel? Are you ready to run this race, rescuing multitudes from the jaws of death? It’s not too late to join the army, COME ON!
Bible Reading Plan:
John 6:41-59, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Song of Songs 5, Jeremiah 52