Devotional #17: The Full Armor of God-Feet Fitted with the Readiness that Comes from the Gospel of Peace.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
-Ephesians 6: 11,15 (NIV).
In Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul instructs us that to “stand against the devil’s schemes” our feet must be “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Paul is essentially saying we must always be prepared to share the message of Christ’s gift of salvation to us. We know through scripture that God’s ultimate desire is to restore and reconcile our sinful and broken lives to Him. He desires this so much that God Himself came to Earth to pay the price for our sins. Through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and Christ’s defeat of death through His resurrection, we are able to live in eternity with God. This is the gospel.
· In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:1,14 (NIV)
· For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
· Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. (NIV)
· But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
· But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (NIV)
The promise of salvation also brings the promise of peace as we walk through our earthly lives. The “gospel of peace” referenced in the Armor of God passage is not only for our eternal salvation, but and also for our daily lives in the here and now. This is the gospel of peace.
· Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:1-2
God desires His gospel of peace to be shared with others. Following His resurrection, His final instruction to His disciples before ascending to heaven was, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20. Peter reiterates our need to have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace by telling us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV).
If Christ went to the cross for the lost, how could we fail to share His “Good News” with others? As fighters of cancer or other serious illnesses, we are uniquely positioned to share the gospel of peace, and must keep our feet fitted to do so. During my journey, I have found that the questions asked to cancer patients naturally lend themselves to sharing the gospel:
· What are you doing that is causing you to live so long? (My Answer: Jesus has healed me.)
· How do you stay so strong? (My Answer: I am not strong by myself, but Christ has given me the strength and relationships I need to endure)
· What advice to do you give to other cancer patients (My Answer: Cling to your family, friends and faith, and never give up hope.)
· What has helped you the most during your battle with cancer? (My answer: Prayer, reading the Bible, trusting that God holds my future, holding onto the love of my friends and family.)
· Aren’t you afraid of dying? (My Answer: I believe I am healed and will live a long life, but regardless, I know that I will spend my eternity with Christ in heaven.)
Of course, being bold enough to share the gospel takes courage and practice. I certainly have not done this perfectly, or even sufficiently. I encourage you to start small, perhaps by posting a scripture on social media. Also, pray that when God provides those opportunities to share, you will be courageous enough to respond with the message of Christ’s love, power, and healing.
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. Can you think of a time when God provided you an opportunity to share the gospel of peace? Were your feet ready? Looking back, would you change your response? If so, how would you respond now?
2. Do you believe that the gift of salvation in Christ benefits us in our daily, earthly lives as well as giving us eternal life? Can you think of examples in the Bible that support your position?
3. Read the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. What earthly factors can prevent us from getting the full abundant life promised by God if we accept salvation through Christ?