Feet prepared with the gospel of peace...

There is a story about Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. According to the legend, Coach Lombardi, on the first day of training camp, told his players that they were going to start with the fundamentals. He then proceeded to instruct these seasoned players in the science of putting on their socks. Of such importance is the footwear of one preparing to engage an opponent, whether on the gridiron or in combat.

As the Apostle Paul continues to prepare us for battle "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,” he tells us, "Stand therefore... having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:14-15, emphasis mine) Our next piece of equipment is foot protection, so we can stand confidently before the enemy of our souls. The Roman soldier had the finest footwear available. David Guzik wrote in his Commentaries on the Bible,

"Josephus described them as 'shoes thickly studded with sharp nails' . . . so as to ensure a good grip. The military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies' being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain."

The soldier needs to be prepared to cover ground in the prosecution of war. In order to do so, he must have reliable shoes, or in the case of the Roman soldier, sandals. Paul was undoubtedly recalling Isaiah 52:7 as he penned his description of the full armor of God:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

The Christian soldier brings the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ to a world in bondage to sin; a world NOT at peace with God, and therefore devoid of peace altogether. He needs to be prepared with a solid understanding of the gospel of peace; a clear grasp of sound, biblical doctrines of theology, anthropology, and soteriology to carry him over the rough terrain of the world's skepticism, rationalizations, and even the probing questions of those who sincerely seek answers from him.

The Apostle Paul tells the Christian soldier:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)

Just as an army boot, for all its toughness, is of little value to the soldier, if it is abrasive enough to cause blisters, so, the gospel of peace is to be delivered in all its power but always with grace. Jesus always, ALWAYS met people where they were living at that moment...and always with grace. Zachaeus, the tax collector; the woman at the well; the woman caught in adultery all had a lesson in the gospel of peace. Jesus dealt with the core issues of their hearts, but never with condemnation. He was about making peace between them and their Heavenly Father.

Jesus sent us forth to "...make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19) We are commissioned to spread the gospel of peace. We must be “...shod...with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” To go forth into the world without such preparation is like going into battle barefoot. We would be early casualties. But when we have “...the preparation of the gospel of peace” to stand on, we can march confidently, wherever the Spirit leads us. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Remember, Christian, "Blessed are the peacemakers." (Matthew 5:9) Be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and you will be prepared to go marching as to war.