Prepare for Spiritual Battle with the Shoes of Peace
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We are commanded to stand firm, willing to be in the battle, to put on the belt of truth to guard our core, and to guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness. Recently, I have been pondering how before we can make moves forward in the spiritual battle, we have to be grounded in the Word of God and protective of our hearts. Then, we get to the third piece of armor, the shoes of peace.
Our feet are there to move, to take us forward and get us to where we need to go. In other words, the shoes of peace symbolize taking steps forward in the spiritual battle with the help of the Spirit.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Our focus verse this week will be Ephesians 6:15, which says, “And your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.”
What Are the Sandals of Readiness?
Christine Batchelder from The Billy Graham Cove shares, “Roman soldiers, during Paul’s time, wore shoes called ‘caligae.’ These were heavy military sandals — half boot, half sandal. These sandals were the sign of an equipped soldier and one ready to move. The openness of the caligae enabled the soldier to wear them all day. They could march, work, or stand in them for hours without any discomfort. It was common that soldiers would march 25 miles. Their feet might hurt, but they would have no blisters.”
Wow, this is not the image that I picture in my modern-day mind. The caligae sandal was purposeful for battle, comfortable for many hours of wear, and provided a firm foundation in war. I love how Christine teaches that they were “the sign of an equipped soldier and one ready to move.” When we have peace and walk in peace as believers in Jesus, we reveal that we are equipped for spiritual battle and ready to move. Peace can sound like an adjective that describes something more like stillness, rest, or calm. However, the peace we have with Jesus gives us the strength to have confidence and trust in Him no matter the war around us.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. This is the only armor of God that included a specific fruit of the Spirit. Peace is an attribute of a believer in trials that can only come from the Lord. It is not natural to have peace in a war, but when someone has Jesus, the peace propels him or her forward into walking through the attacks of the enemy.
The CSB also above mentions the phrase, “Gospel of peace.” The message of Jesus is the truth of the hope that we have in Him. He has set all who believe in Him free from the powers of darkness. Although the darkness surrounds us, we read in Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” We read in Ephesians 5:13-14, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”
Jesus has given us the light to shine in this dark world. His peace will radiate in our lives and attract others or repel them. The enemy cannot stand the gospel of peace because he desires darkness and chaos. However, our peace in the Spirit empowers us to take steps of faith, even in the unknown.
The Power of Peace
When we think about the power of a stable, self-controlled person, he is confident, calm, and unwavering in conviction. Peaceful people who follow Jesus might appear weak to the world or the enemy, but they are living out the power of Christ. They are walking with great strength, restraint, and focus. When we do this, we live reliant on Jesus and not our own abilities. We cannot make things happen, we cannot ever have a single victory over the enemy on our own, however we can walk in the power of the gospel of peace, knowing that He is with us and He gives us His victory.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Jesus Models the Shoes of Peace
Jesus did an incredible job living out the shoes of peace. Many times, he was attacked by other people or demonic activity, but He was able to maintain composure and stay focused on His mission. He spoke hard truths and did not always agree with those around Him, but He was a peaceful presence. Jesus knew that He was on earth to complete a mission for the glory of the Father and the redemption of mankind. He was in a great spiritual battle.
However, He was not moved from who He was or what He was called to do. There were many times that He could have revealed His identity or exercised authority over others, but He remained silent and continued His mission. He had the peace that He was called to be obedient to the will of the Father even though many were watching for Him to be a worldly king or military leader. Instead, He brought the gospel of peace.
Am I a Spiritual Warrior with the Shoes of Peace?
Am I tempted to leave my shoes of peace for fear or chaos?
How does knowing that the caligae sandal is purposeful for battle, comfortable, and a firm foundation give you hope that Christ’s peace does this for your life?
How is the church living out the gospel of peace? In what ways can we pray for the body of Christ to walk in peace in the spiritual battle?
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Photo credit: Unsplash/Emma Frances Logan
