Boots of the Gospel of Peace
The Romans were the first ones to design footwear that was protective and useful. During those times, when you went to battle the enemy would fill the ground with shards that would tear a way at any type of footwear at that time. Well, if you've ever worn a bad pair of boots all day, you know how much sore feet can incapacitate you. You could cripple a whole army if you destroyed their feet.
Similarly, we must make sure that our feet that carry us through out this world are readily fitted and protected. What are they fitted with? The readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Gospel means good news. This good news brings us peace. It is an inner peace, a peace that keeps us steady and steadfast as the world is going crazy around us. Philippians 4:6-7 give us the formula for this.
In my area of life, walking around in my boots sets me apart from most of those around me. They are a sign of who I am. This is not true of everyone, and that's not the point. The point is, that even if simply wearing your boots doesn't make you stand out, how you wear them should.
Recently, the entire world has gone through a tough time that turned everything upside down. Life as we knew it was no longer a way to live. Many faltered in fear, which is the opposite of peace. Those who lived by fear attempted to dictate how everyone else should live, which is not practical. We should never make decisions based on fear. The emotion of fear is an indicator, not a dictator. Did I change how I did some time things, yet, but only for a time until it was no longer necessary.
This is not to start a debate, or to shame, but more to point out a truth. During that time it became abundantly clear of who was fitted with the gospel of peace, and who was not. Before then I believed many were, but one thing hardships prove is what people are really made of, which is why God allows them. We can let hardships break us, or make us. It's up to us. When we decide to let them make us, we have a perfect heavenly Father who will walk before us, beside us, and behind us to keep us from being destroyed by the world.
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