Ephesians 6:15

6:15

and with – the third “with.” I see these 3 as the bottom-line, merest of essentials. As a soldier in God’s war against Satan and his forces, I cannot go anywhere without these 3 basics securely in place, and daily refreshed.

your feet – my movements, where I go, by extension my interactions with other people. I draw this inference from the fact that walking was the primary mode of travel for the common person in that day. And certainly for the average soldier this would be true. If I sit in isolation at home, my footwear is less important. But if I go out, I need the right footwear for today’s conditions. That footwear needs to transport me safely and comfortably through the various events of the day as I interact with others.

fitted – minimal slipping as I walk; avoid blisters or chaffing but also not pinching the feet

with the readiness – preparation, on alert, available for immediate deployment, always attuned for the call-up notification from my Commander-in-Chief

that comes from – source, origin, supply

the gospel – Good News

of peace – Right relationships with God and others. A new friend pointed out
recently that this peace also includes right relations with myself. This is the Good News: Because of Christ Jesus, I can live in right relations with God, others and myself.

So this raises 2 questions: (1) What does it look like to have my feet protected and supported by right relations? As I suggested above, feet were the primary means of transportation at that time. They still represent at least one aspect of our movement through daily life. So this portion of my preparation has to do with moving through society—interacting with others. Part of what it would look like to have peace in my interactions would include not fearing whom I would meet during the day. I have sought forgiveness from those I can ask. I am prepared to ask forgiveness from others I have offended, if/when I meet them again. And I have forgiven those who have “trespassed against me.” So I have done and am doing all I can to obtain and maintain right relations with others. Prior to that and more importantly, because of Christ and my faith in Him, because of His grace in calling me, I live in right relationship with God. And finally, I continually seek to forgive myself. For years, forgiving others was the issue. No more. Now I seek to forgive myself. So the short answer to the first question is: It looks like living with confidence instead of fear: Confidence because of the right relations in all 3 directions.

That leads me to my second question: How does this help me in my struggle against the evil beings in power on earth and in the heavenly realms? How does this help me stand in the midst of a spiritual battle? First, if God is for me (because I am at peace with Him, i.e. we are reconciled in Christ), then who can be against me? Some may BE against me, but none can STAND against me. Second, since no one remains who can jump out of hiding and accuse me of some secret sin or offense (peace with others), I am not distracted by the hurts of the past. Old battles are gone. I can focus on this current battle and the efforts of the evil beings to cause me to fall. Third, by forgiving myself and living at peace with myself, I rid my life of the traitor within. So I suppose the real question—rhetorically speaking—is, how can I expect to stand in the time of battle if I am not carried along with peace?