Read: Ephesians 6:10-18
Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
When we moved to the windward side all the neighbors came out to meet us, which was a fun time. There is a ginger farm across the street. When the old Japanese man that owned that farm came over, he came over barefoot. He must have noticed me looking at his feet because he proudly told me he never wore slippers. All his long life he had worked the land barefoot. But I was looking at his feet because they were so deformed. His years of going barefoot had taken its toll and even though he was proud to be barefoot it was obvious that walking was painful.
For him working in the soft moist clay of Ahuimanu was fine but in Israel, the hard dry ground would quickly tear up a person’s feet. For soldiers in Paul’s day, foot protection was especially important. It allowed them to be mobile, protecting their feet from hitting rocks, hurting their feet, and limiting their mobility.
As Christians Paul teaches us that we need similar protection and that is found in the Gospel of peace. In the context here the peace he speaks of is not peace with each other but peace with God. God’s wrath burns against sinners and all of us sin. The greatest problem humanity has is that it is at war with God. All are sinners and a righteous God will someday pour out his wrath and punish that sin. Jesus paid the penalty for sin and all who have faith in him will be saved from this wrath and then adopted as children of God. This is the “good news” of the gospel, that we are saved from the wrath to come! In this sense, we that believe have peace with God. The war is over, peace at last!
For this reason, we prepare ourselves with the knowledge that there is peace with God. We are His children and that cannot be taken away. When doubts come or we stumble with sin, that knowledge that the gospel made peace and that Jesus is our righteousness protects us in our faith.
Meditation for the Day: 1 John 3:1a Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! Husbands and wives may divorce, nullifying their relationship. Children on the other hand are always related. Unlike the marriage relationship, there is a physical relation between the father and his children that cannot be broken. The child carries the father’s DNA and it is impossible for a father to take it back. This is the relationship that God uses to show his complete commitment to those with faith in Jesus. Meditate on the truth that through the gospel of peace God secures you for eternity.
Assignment: Spend time thanking the Father for Jesus today.
For Fun: Take a hike or a walk today! Do half the distance with shoes and the other half barefoot. Don’t hurt your feet!