Shoes of Readiness (Ephesians 6:15)
Today we will study a text that has been very odd to me.
Ephesians 6:15 (ESV) --- 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
This sounds wordy and strange. What does this mean?
Soldier Shoes
When I was working for the Army as a flight test engineer, we had to dress in a full military uniform on flight testing days. The uniform was nice but wearing it was kind of weird to me because I was not enlisted. I felt like an imposter as people would tell me, "Thank you for your service." Part of the outfit was the authentic combat boots. For the first few days you wore them, these things were uncomfortable, but they eventually became very comfortable. They were a little heavy, and they had extremely thick tread.
When I look at the shoes in this picture, I can't help but think about how things have changed. Heavy and uncomfortable are not good qualities for soldiers who don't have trucks and helicopters to get around in. The soldiers Paul has in mind walked everywhere they went. When we think about a first-century soldier's shoes, I think it's important to consider four things: traction, protection, comfort, and weight. TRACTION - Without traction, soldiers could slip and make themselves an easy target in hand-to-hand combat. PROTECTION - Without a strong tread underfoot, the enemy could hide spikes that would pierce right through your feet, or you could get frostbite in the colder regions. COMFORT - Comfort is one of those things that we might not think too much about until we walk 20 miles a day. Then, comfort becomes a critical feature. WEIGHT - Finally, heavy shoes would make walking excruciating. It also makes the warrior sluggish. He cannot avoid the enemy's attacks or move quickly enough to gain an advantage. This all will become important later on in our study.
"Put on the Readiness"
As we read this text in Ephesians 6:15, we see that readiness or preparedness are the shoes we put on for battle. The belt we put around our waste is truth, our breastplate is righteousness, and our shoes are readiness. What does that mean? If I'm talking to my children, one of the last things I typically tell them is to put on their shoes. They aren't ready to go if they don't have their shoes on. I would often leave my shoes on at my house growing up, and my mom would always ask me, "Going somewhere?" Then, she would tell me, "Take your shoes off and stay a while." There is something about having your shoes on that indicates you are ready to go somewhere.
How do we have our shoes on? How do we put on readiness, and what are we supposed to be ready to do? Paul tells us to "put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." That tells us a lot.
How?
First, it tells us that readiness comes from the gospel of peace. What is "the gospel of peace?" The gospel of peace is described for us earlier in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:13--19 (ESV) --- 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
The gospel of peace is the good news about our peace with God through the blood of Jesus. Jesus has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God, and he has reconciled them to one another. We are all members of God's household. We are God's children. This good news of peace should make us ready, but ready to do what? Does it make us ready to serve in God's army?
Ready For Temptation
Like shoes for our feet, the gospel makes us ready to stand up to temptation, endure trials, teach people about the Lord, and show love to brethren who are hurting. Let's talk about these four things and the four things our shoes are supposed to do for us. First, consider the ability we have to stand up to temptation. The good news is that God loves us even though we have killed his son should make us want to stop sinning. God's grace forgives the worst sin I have ever committed. That makes me love him so much that I don't want to sin. That gives me traction against the seemingly unstoppable force of sin. He knew I was weak and unable to stop all sinning by myself completely, but he loved me anyway, and he wanted to stand behind me, pushing against that unstoppable force. I can become an immovable object because I know God wants a relationship with me.
Ready For Trials
Second, consider the ability we have to endure trials. The good news of Jesus suffering on the cross for us and being raised from the dead protects us when we have to go through trials. We don't stumble and fall because we don't believe that our circumstances in this life indicate that God has turned his back on us. He promises to stay with us and strengthen us in the trials of life. When Satan puts spikes in our path, the gospel protects against tremendous suffering. We hold on to the gospel and know that is not true.
Ready To Teach
Third, consider the readiness we should have to teach the gospel. I say, "We should have" because I don't always feel ready. But the gospel makes us ready to teach it. We know that God has poured out his love for all mankind to be saved from the judgment they deserve. We know that the judgment is horrific and something that all men and women should be working very hard to avoid. The good news makes us ready to share the good news. But let's talk about comfort. Are you comfortable sharing the good news? Sometimes, when you put on your shoes for the first time, they aren't comfortable. You have to break them in. But over time, they mold your foot, and they are the most comfortable thing you can wear. Satan has made us believe that the initial discomfort of telling people the gospel's truth is how it always will be. As God's soldiers, he has given us the mission of spreading this good news to the end of the earth. All can invite. All can play a part. If we believe it, we can teach it.
Ready To Love
Fourth, consider the readiness we should have to love others. We are called to stand out in the world, and the one thing that helps us stand out more than anything else is our love.
John 13:35 (ESV) --- 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The good news of God's forgiveness makes it easy for us to forgive other people. God blessing us with every spiritual blessing makes it easy for us to give our physical blessings to help those in need. It makes showing love to those who don't deserve our love a light thing instead of something too heavy for us to lift. While most people around us find it incredibly difficult to love those who mistreat them, we wonder how God could still love us after all we have done to him. That transforms us and makes us ready to love the unlovable. It's not that we have to cast our pearls before swine or give what is holy to the dogs. If they won't accept the truth and love we offer, that's on them. But it doesn't burden us to help people even after doing something evil toward us. We follow in the steps of Christ.
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV) --- 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:20--21 (ESV) --- 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Why Aren't We Ready?
Now, do you see the readiness that the gospel provides? So, let's ask ourselves the difficult question. Am I ready to fight temptation, endure trials, teach the gospel, and love unlovable people? If I'm not, have I considered the gospel? Have I been so enamored by God's love for me that it has changed my life? If not, why not?
This is all about our spiritual character. Are we the type of people who are eager to serve and eager to lay down our own lives to show people God's love? This text is telling us to put on that readiness and preparedness. We won't do that unless we are eager to accomplish the mission we are given.
Do we have that kind of zeal and passion for God? What takes that away?
One of the things that I think is having a tremendously harmful effect on our hearts is the culture around us. Day after day, we hear that we need to look deep inside and find what makes us the happiest. Then, we need to spend all our time pursuing that thing. That innermost desire is your identity.
Another idea is that we need to self-actualize by becoming the best version of ourselves.
These are very self-focused mentalities, and they are horrible ways to identify who we are if we live anywhere other than the USA.
Can you imagine if your identity is to own a Lamborghini and you work hard to attain it? You might never attain it if you don't live in the US. Does that make you a failure? Let's say you are eager, you have every opportunity, and you do everything it takes to acquire it. You think you can rest now because you have your Lamborghini. Then, you lose it. Maybe you crash it, or it breaks, and you can't afford to fix it. When you lose it, you think that life is over. I used a Lamborghini, but this can be anything. Our culture conditions us to think about phones, computers, cars, spouses, houses, and children. These are all horrible identities.
Or, what if your identity becomes the best version of yourself and you get injured? You will never meet your fullest potential.
When we believe these things, we have put different shoes on our feet. Life is not about the gospel anymore. It's about acquiring something else or becoming someone great in the eyes of men. We need to stand on the identity that we are children of God through Jesus. That's the shoes we need to wear all the time. Don't take them off. If you take them off, you won't be ready. When we put those shoes on, we need the eagerness and willingness to face every opportunity with joy in our hearts. We get the privilege to serve in the greatest army of all.
Conclusion
Jesus has given us a letter with the good news of salvation written all over it with his blood. We can stand against the devil if the gospel is on our feet. It gives us the traction we need to stand firm. We can also move with speed and agility to avoid his deceptive attacks. We can make good decisions that lead to glory instead of shame. We can even march to conquer new lands with this message of hope. If we get tired, it's not because we have bad shoes.
Are you ready? Do you have the spiritual character that says, "Here I am, send me?"