(Ephesians
6:15) “And your feet shod with
the preparation of the gospel of peace”
To have ones
feet protected in battle was imperative and the cladding used was always suited
to the terrain. Imagine the types of snares the enemy would lay, gall traps and
the like, sharp sticks hidden in camouflage waiting to impale the victim they
were intended for! But if the marching enemy had their feet cladded correctly
the entrapments would have little effect and therefore be of very little
concern. How then are we to have our “feet shod for the preparation of the
gospel”?
There can be no
greater teacher than God the Holy Ghost; but I surmise it is life itself with
our own journeys and God’s Word as our guideline that teaches us so many
lessons, as we so often blunder with this precious gift God has given us, the
Lord Jesus Christ; I have often worn the wrong foot attire to battle.
How do I and so many others make this mistake? We get caught up with the cares
of life, which in turn forces us to remain silent. This is not the instruction
the Apostle Paul gives us in this portion of scripture.
“The
preparation of the gospel of peace”
implies a prepared and resolved frame of mind, a condition of our hearts that
adheres to the gospel and abides by it, which will enable us to walk with a
steady pace in the way of Christianity, regardless of the dangers alone the
way. This however has not been the consistent banner that I can confidently
claim my life has flown. With that as the truth does this now mean I now throw
in the towel and cry, “woe is me”! On
the contrary, it is the grace of God that has reminded me of the error of my
ways; “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness
and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead
you to repentance?”
(Romans 2:4)
Even through my
own folly, if God in His goodness still chooses to show me the error of my
ways, I shall be obliged to fall on my knees as I cry out unto Him with immense
gratitude for once again having the opportunity to call out on the name of the
Lord seeking out His forgiveness driving me to seek out His grace as He leads
me into repentance wherever needed. Without repentance coupled with obedience
we will always be found wanting regarding the footwear we wear! This will then
cripple us as we encounter the snares of life leaving us mute. Silenced by the
snares of life!
The Apostle
Paul has this to teach; “But I discipline my body and keep it under
control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1Corinthians 9:27)
How many of us have had trouble with authority throughout life’s
journey? It is deep rooted by that which taints; sin with all its power and yet
God has freed us from sin through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ! This tragically is often forgotten as we take our eyes of the
ball, BUT God who is rich in mercy reminds us of our error, praise His glorious
name!
How many have been disqualified? I have often stumbled and been
rightly accused of being a hypocrite. Nevertheless if we truly repent God then
mercifully allows us once again to fly His banner in our lives. If we are then
sensitive to His leading we will once again find His strength in our lives to
clad our feet with the right cladding for the right terrain as peace once again
floods our soul and we find our lips beginning to loosen as we point those who
are lost in the way, the truth and the life; which is styled “the gospel of peace because it brings
all sorts of peace, peace with God, with ourselves, and with one another”. Leading
all in the way of repentance, leaving our feet shod as we live our lives
constantly repenting which others will also observe causing them to ask
questions and with our feet now shod with the gospel of peace we will not be
easily provoked as we gently share the hope that is in us with others nor shall we be prone
to constant quarrelling…
With this in
mind our feet will be protected just as they were back then from the gall traps
being no match for those soldiers who wore brass cladding on their feet.
Signing off
Tyrone
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