The Gospel Of Peace - Armor of God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil…as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:10-11,15, ESV)

How was your morning? For many, today is a day of rejoicing. For many others, today is a day of mourning. Depending on who you voted for and what the result was, you’re either encouraged or discouraged. These are typical feelings the day after a national election. After all, if we believe that politics, at its most foundational level, is about how to best love our neighbor, we’re emotionally involved in the results.

The encouraging news, no matter who won the election, is that loving our neighbor well is something we can all do, with or without the help of the government. And that’s Paul’s exhortation with the third piece of armor, “As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). It’s an interesting way of describing this piece of armor. Paul could have said “put on the gospel as shoes,” but he doesn’t. His focus is slightly different. The armor is that we are prepared to share the “gospel of peace.” This leads to two questions: What is the gospel of peace and how do we prepare to share it?

The answer to the first question is the good news of salvation – peace between God and sinful humanity. Paul, once again, alludes to the imagery in Isaiah. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7, NIV). Be encouraged; the good news is that no matter who occupies the White House, King Jesus sits on the throne! And because his enthronement included a sacrificial crucifixion, we have peace with God.

The answer to the second question, about preparation, is to grow in our understanding of the gospel of peace. We need to reflect on the fact that the distance between us and God, before Christ, was infinitely greater than the distance between people on opposite poles of the political spectrum. Paul writes, “we were by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). We were as far away from salvation as you can possibly get. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us” saved us (Eph. 2:4). Not because of what we’ve done or what we have or who we know, but because he loved us. And because he loved us, he saved us. Only God can save people, but we can love them enough to proclaim the “gospel of peace” no matter who won the election.

May this be our prayer today:
“As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (Eph. 6:15)

Lord, I pray that you help me to have an ever-increasing understanding of the gospel so that I might ready myself to share it. Help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s direction, that I may discern when and where to proclaim the gospel, and in your power, free captives from Satan’s domain. Help me to be a winsome proclaimer of the peace we have with you through Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.