Devotion for Tuesday, April 28th, 2020
From: Karen Blanchard
The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Today we will be looking at the armor that soldiers wear on their feet. In this passage, Paul tells us to stand firm with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. It may seem strange to consider shoes to be a part of one’s armor, but can you imagine going into battle shoeless? During Paul’s time when this was written, Roman soldiers’ feet were fitted with sandals called caligae. These sandals were made to help protect soldiers’ feet during their long marches into battle. They had extremely thick soles and wrapped perfectly around their ankles in a way that protected against blistering. Caligae also had spikes on the bottom to help them stand firm as they traveled, giving them a solid foundation. In short, these shoes allowed them to step freely and without fear while turning their full attention to the battle at hand.
What does the gospel of peace have to do with shoes? As Christians we are called to share the good news of Christ with others. Being fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace allows us to do this successfully.
Romans 10:14-15 – How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
God’s Church is sent to announce the good news of God’s Kingdom, which will spread His way of peace around the whole world. Having our shoes on, we are ready to move, to spread God’s message to others.
How do these spiritual shoes help us stand firm? Our mission to preach God’s good news of what Christ did for us on the cross and His supernatural peace serve as our firm foundation. When we truly allow ourselves to take comfort in the good news promised by God, there is nothing from outside ourselves that can trouble our hearts or give us reason to be afraid. The gospel gives you a preparedness when the “stuff” of life wants to wipe the smile off your face. Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and so we have nothing to fear from it. Just as shoes allow us to walk on otherwise painful terrain without fear, so the preparation of the gospel of peace allows us to traverse the otherwise painful trials and tribulations of life without fear, knowing that what awaits is greater than anything we could possibly suffer in this world (Romans 8:18).
So as we face the uncertainties of our current situation, may we stay prepared for what lies ahead with the sandals of God’s good news of peace and be willing to share it with those around us.