Don’t you love it when you read the Bible and you discover something that you’d never seen before? This is one of the benefits of memorization, you start to see words that you glossed over before. But honestly, I came across this new insight as I simply read the Fighter Verse for this first time this past week. This is the passage.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In Ephesians 6:14-15, Paul lists three parts of the armor of God: the belt, the breastplate and the shoes. And he describes what each of these are. The belt refers to truth. We need the truth of God to guard and guide us. The breastplate is righteousness. The righteousness of God defines those who trust in Jesus and it is what protects us from any deadly blow the enemy wants to lay against us. Then we have the shoes. What are the shoes? I always thought the shoes were the gospel of peace. But that’s not what Paul says.
He says the shoes are the “readiness given by the gospel . . . .” What Paul is referring to is a zeal that’s been given by the gospel. And he says “Gospel of Peace” which refers to being reconciled with God. If you understand how much you’ve been forgiven and if you understand that God used to be against you, but is now for you and if you understand that you’re now at peace with God (even despite the failings of this past week); you have a zeal for the gospel to be known in all of life. This is part of the armor of God.
This “readiness” reminds me of Nehemiah 8, where we’re told that the “joy of the Lord is our strength” and also of the apostle Paul when he says, “I’ve determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” It reminds me of the church devoting themselves to prayer and the apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread. Why devote yourself to these things? We’ve been reconciled to God and God is for us so we can speak, sing, praise, love, serve with zeal because we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.
Ventura, don’t go anywhere without the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. This week, as we sing, let’s sing with glorious, “ready” praise – confessing that we know we’re at peace with God because of his grace and mercy.
Timothy Durey