Shoes of Peace
ICS Daily Devotions
Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might means we must actively enforce the victory that Jesus has won on the cross of Calvary through His death, burial, and resurrection. Having defeated the enemy, Jesus is now seated in the heavenly places far above all principalities and powers. As believers, we are seated with Him.
Nonetheless, the Apostle Paul urgently urged us to put on the whole armour of God, explaining that we are not battling against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and rulers of wickedness that influence the world. What helps us to overcome the world is faith in God and all that Jesus has achieved for us.
The belt of truth helps us to be grounded in the Word regarding who God is, what He has done through Christ’s redemptive work, and what God has said in His Word. Girding our loin with His truth enables us to stand. The breastplate of righteousness helps us to know our right standing with God obtained by God’s grace, that we are justified by the blood of Christ. With the truth in place and the knowledge of our righteous position in Christ, we can pray powerful and effective prayers, standing watch with alertness as we intercede for the saints and our family.
Ephesians 6:15 (AMP) And having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produces by the good news) of the gospel of peace.
The third piece of armour is the shoes of peace. Christians will experience two kinds of peace as a result of accepting the gospel. First, we have peace with God when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. This is a spiritual condition that belongs to all believers. Second, the peace of God rules in our hearts and minds during our walk with the Lord, even though we live in a spiritual war zone.
Therefore, we are to preach the gospel and wrestle by enforcing the victory at the same time. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament defines the gospel as euaggelion—a technical term in Greco-Roman culture for “news of victory.” Therefore, euaggelion is closely linked with the thought of victory in battle. This is a convicting definition—a pagan messenger radiantly announces the good news of an earthly victory. How much more radiant should we be as the bearers of the great news of Christ’s eternal triumph over sin, Satan, and death?
Colossians 2:15 (NKJV) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Therefore, we must be prepared at all times and in every season to preach the gospel to everyone God brings to our sphere of influence.
Sermon: The Weapons of Our Warfare
