Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walk thru Eph #146

Walk thru Eph #146

versebyverse | April 24, 2008 20:19

Thought: To me, the good news of salvation in Christ is a real protection against the godless, empty directions satan offers.

Question: Am I ready to share the good news of Christ?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:15 (NIV): "and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."

God's nature contains the gospel: good news to mankind. It is part of the nature of love--God is love--to reach out and give to the object loved that which is needed. Otherwise there is no love. Feet cause us to go forward. God "went forward", condescended, to us, to love us, to know us, to touch us and rescue us. And His rescue is characterized by peace. God didn't send Jesus to condemn or make war against us, though we fully deserved to be annihilated in our sin. No. God came in peace, bringing peace. This is the beauty of the good news of salvation.

Now, God wants us to be similarly protected and equipped by His very gospel nature: clothed in this armor of good, peaceful news to all mankind. We fight evil when we go with the gospel of peace and deliver to unsaved people an opportunity of salvation.

Like shoes needing to be the right size, so our application of God's gospel to our lives needs to be "fitted" rightly to our individual "feet." The gospel can be delivered in many ways. My feet are a different size than yours, though many of us have identical sizes; thus, to me, there are various ways to lead people to the kingdom, and my "way", or, the way God uses me, may differ from you, but yet be a way God has worked to reach many other people in the past.

Our "feet", or method of influencing people for the kingdom, need to be in "readiness." Scripturally we know we are told to be ever ready to explain the hope people may see in us. We keep the gospel on the tip of our tongues; handy for any situation. Paul says here that this readiness "comes from" the gospel itself. By nature, God's nature, there is eagerness to save people. We can be eager because the message is so very good: salvation is to whoever will have it, it is free, it is everlasting, it is able to completely save, to the "uttermost", any sinner of any extent, you can take it immediately, or even later, though procrastination is dangerous!, and you can receive it anywhere--on a cross, outside of church, on your knees or off, etc.

Being armored with the gospel of peace is a strong protection because our feet, or "goings", are for good, not evil, when we go with the gospel. Our reason for living is pure and right and completely in line with God's will.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the good news of the gospel. Strengthen me to protect my own life by bringing the gospel to others. Amen.