The Importance of Armor Maintenance: The Shoes
Most people probably wouldn't include shoes in a list of armor, or they might add them as an afterthought. But that's not what Paul does here through the Holy Spirit. He includes shoes before the shield, helmet, and sword. As a result, they must be considered a significant, integral part of our armor. Let's look at why.
First, let's look at how they are described in the Armor of God catalog. Paul says in Ephesians 6:15 to have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." So, we will initially look at preparation, Gospel, and peace, and finally discuss the shoes themselves.
Preparation
We must maintain a readiness (NIV) that comes with the shoes. What is readiness? It is being both prepared and willing to act. Just wearing the shoes isn't enough. We have to be ready to move once we are equipped with them. Another word for it could be "watchfulness." In Luke 12:35a, Jesus instructed His disciples to "Be dressed ready for service." To be effective warriors, we need to know that when the time comes to speak or act, we are wearing the right shoes.
Gospel
The Gospel is the good news of Jesus, his sacrifice, and our salvation. Faith in the Gospel allows us access to peace, the next critical part of this formula. Colossians 3:15a says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." We have been called to peace and will explore that in the next section. But we have also been called to spread the good news of our salvation. Jesus told His disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15) No, we don’t all have the same calling. Some people are called to preach from pulpits or street corners, but most are called simply to be open and genuine about their relationship with God. We can make an impression on people if we talk about our joy, struggles, and processes through the lens of faith.
Peace
Yes, just like beauty pageant contestants, we all want world peace. But that's not the peace we are looking at there. Peace is difficult to find in the world. In John 14:27, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." This peace is not an absence of worldly struggle or conflict. Instead, Ephesians talks about keeping the presence of inner peace while we are in a battle.
Remember the readiness from above? We need to be ready to act as a peacemaker. We are familiar with the term peacekeeper, but peacemaker has a different meaning. While being a peacekeeper means holding the ground where rules of peace have already been established, being a peacemaker typically involves helping develop those rules. And, to accomplish that, we frequently face becoming uncomfortable, whether we are confronting wrongdoing, confessing mistakes, or letting go of things that might have become part of our identities. Why is it significant? God loves people who will humble themselves and try to bring them together. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) That is quite a blessing!
Another blessing is mentioned in James 3:18. "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." And that is a harvest of God's righteousness, which we need in our breastplate, remember?
So, let's be peace farmers! When sowing in peace, the most significant seed we need is forgiveness. Okay, don't zone out on me. Forgiveness doesn't mean you regard what the person did to hurt you as fair or right. Instead, it means that you can have peace not to dwell on the incident, which simply serves to stir up unsettled thoughts and can lead to anger and bitterness. My standard explanation about this, depending on the depth of hurt, is that forgiveness doesn't mean you have to have dinner with the person who hurt you. Instead, it means that you don't mind that they are alive to have dinner and eat it without choking or getting food poisoning.
When we determine not to forgive someone, we dwell on unforgiveness. The offending person may be experiencing life happily, yet, we are in turmoil. Jeremiah says in Lamentations 3:17, "My soul has been cast far away from peace; I have forgotten happiness." That's why we partner with God to find peace. He promises to provide his peace when we walk with him. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
Shoes
Shoes are essential for support and a sturdy foundation. If you have ever worn uncomfortable shoes to make a long walk, you understand how vital good shoes can be. But before we talk about putting them on, let's look at taking them off.
In the Old Testament, people were often required to remove their shoes when the wearers were on Holy Ground. For example, the Lord instructed both Moses and Joshua to remove their shoes when talking with Him. Jacob Nacht, a Hebrew scholar, authored a detailed about shoes in the Bible. According to him, Levites and priests were also instructed to be barefooted as they worked in the Tabernacle. (Exodus 30:18-21)
Going without shoes was also a symbolic gesture during mourning. "But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot." (2 Sam 15:30a) And when God forbids Ezekiel from mourning publicly, one of the things he requires is for Ezekiel to continue wearing his sandals. (Ezekiel 24:17)
Now, as we move into Ephesians, Paul tells us to be sure we put shoes on. As we continue our look at the armor of the Roman soldier, their shoes were not like our modern sturdy, waterproof, steel-toed boots. Their shoes were made of leather but were designed with strips to allow air in and adjust quickly. They often had nails in the soles that allowed for good grip and established a strong foundation for the soldier's march and battle.
Maintaining our shoes
The best way to maintain shoes is to keep them clean and dry. Marching through rugged terrain can bring us into contact with dirt, water, and grime of all kinds. Therefore, it is good to take time to assess them occasionally, wiping off dust and getting rid of the moisture and sweat that comes from regular wear. A soft, clean rag of processing experiences and recognizing struggles can go a long way in assessing the state of your shoes of peace.
How do they get damaged?
Even regular wear can damage shoes. For example, outer soles can begin to wear from walking so many miles, laces can break after being tightened over and over, and insoles can fray from the friction of many steps.
How can we repair them?
Walking with damaged shoes will further degrade them and can cause injury to the wearer's feet, knees, and back. Wearing damaged shoes in battle can have devastating consequences, causing us to trip, fall, or lose ground. Therefore, repairing our shoes is a must.
We have already discussed the best repair tool, forgiveness. God puts a lot of importance on forgiveness because, as a God full of love, He sought a way to forgive us and build a connection with us. Therefore, He instructs us to forgive others because He has gone to great lengths to forgive us.
So, when we regard our shoes of peace, we must use forgiveness to repair holes and gashes. If we hold onto unforgiveness or bitterness, we cannot mend our shoes. We also damage our relationship with God. (Matthew 6:15, Mark 11:25)
I encourage you to attend to your shoes so that you are prepared to share the gospel of peace. God needs good warriors who are well-armored and well-shod. God told Joshua in Joshua 1:3, "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." So let us hold fast to that promise. Be ready to spread the gospel of peace, and God will give us firm footing. Are you ready to be a peacemaker?
