“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Galatians 6:15)

It was the message given at Jesus’ birth. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) Those who take the message of good news to the world are said to have beautiful feet. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15) This seems to be in contrast to the weapons of war in the spiritual armor for the fight with good news which brings joy form those whose feet are beautiful.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must keep in mind that we are in a spiritual struggle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) Therefore, Peter would give us instructions for the struggle. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

In this struggle, Peter tells us to stand firm. Paul sets before us the pieces of armor for our struggle. One item of armor is to have our “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Galatians 6:15) As a soldier needs a good firm foundation to stand and fight, we need a solid foundation where our feet give us both stability and the ability to move in any direction quickly. That foundation for us is the gospel of peace.

When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, God gives to us the security of our new life in Jesus Christ, as God comes to dwell in us. “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) Growing in our relationship with God, we continue to have His stability in our lives, even in this world filled with sin. Thus, the good news in our lives brings peace which we can offer to those without God’s peace.

As we grow in our relationship with God, we also are learning from Him. Then we will have the ability to adjust as we learn to present the good news through our lives and our words. This is what Jesus did. To one He would offer living water because of their spiritual thirst. To another, we would speak of the bread of life, for the one who was hungry. To one in grief, he would speak of the resurrection and the life. The good news meets us in our sin and brings to us forgiveness and redemption. Through all the ways of telling the good news, they all bring us to peace with God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1-2) Learning from Jesus as we walk with Him and the Written Word of God, we learn how to be ready with the gospel, the good news of peace.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block