What Shoes Are You Wearing?

There are shoes for different times and tasks, different occupations and occasions. Paul calls these shoes that we are to put on “readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (NIV)

Strange to find “peace” in Ephesians 6? How strange it is that Paul should mention a gospel of peace right in the middle of a passage dealing with spiritual warfare and conflict. 

Our aim is that people would accept the terms of peace that God offers through faith in Jesus. And the only reason there is any conflict at all is because the power of sin and the powers of Satan are against making people make peace with God. Look at Ephesians 2:13-19:

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

The good news of peace is that when Christ died on the cross, two kinds of enmity were overcome. The enmity between God and man was brought to an end. The enmity between man and man was brought to an end. 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isaiah 52:7)

Here in the Isaiah passage, we have a picture of the feet of people who are running to bring good news, and the news is the good news of peace. Surely this is where Paul got his imagery. We too are to be messengers of the good news of peace. We need our shoes on to be Kingdom Bringers. The shoes Paul tells us to wear are the gospel of peace, yet many choose other types of shoes or even go barefoot.

Prayer: Dear Father, I wear the shoes of a Kingdom Bringer to bring the gospel of peace, to proclaim Your message of peace. Holy Spirit, empower me to witness to all who come into my path. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray, Amen!