Christian Fit CheckSample

The shoes of peace

Sometimes, my daughters and I get into playful pushing matches on the smooth kitchen floor. As the girls have gotten older and stronger, we’ve noticed that the winner tends to be the one who’s wearing shoes. Despite my superior size and strength, wearing socks means I slide backward instead of standing firm when a daughter starts to push. But shoes help me stand my ground.

It’s the same for your faith. Paul writes, “Stand firm then . . . with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14,15). Some scholars believe that ancient Roman soldiers had small nails on the bottom of their sandals (like modern cleats) so they could stand firm during hand-to-hand combat. According to Paul, the “gospel of peace” makes us ready to do the very same thing.

The devil would love to push you into the past, sliding you into the memories of your sin, idiotic choices, and the people you hurt. Even worse, Satan wants to slide you back into shame and condemnation, the assumption that God could never love you after what you did.

This is why we put on our shoes for battle. The gospel gives you the peace of knowing that the past is past, that your sins are forgiven, and that God loves you unconditionally. Through Jesus, you are redeemed, restored, reconciled, reborn, renewed, and righteous in his sight.

Satan can’t slide you back like socks on a kitchen floor when you’ve got your gospel shoes on. Stand firm in the gospel of peace!