TWO FEET OF PEACE
“Stand firm, then…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace…” (Ephesians 6:14a, 15, NIV).
I often wonder why this verse is interpreted as an encouragement to evangelise, as though preaching the gospel somehow acts as a protective measure against the devil’s schemes. I prefer to understand it in the context of Paul’s counsel, in this passage, to “stand firm”.
It takes two feet to stand firm and maintain one’s balance. Someone standing on one foot is easily unbalanced. What is the “gospel of peace”? Isaiah offers an explanation in Isaiah 52:7, (NIV). “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace…who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’.”
The good news is that, “since we have been justified by 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 stand.” (Romans 5:1, NIV). We have a firm footing in grace because we have believed that God does not count our sins against us because Jesus paid our debt.
Peace with God secures our eternal destiny but what about our day-to-day struggles in a world of trouble? It is imperative that we fully appropriate the legacy of peace Jesus left us to steady us in this world where we need it the most. To stand only on the “foot” of peace with God will leave us unsteady and unbalanced when the crises come and we are tempted to collapse in a heap of fear and doubt.
The Apostle Paul addresses the other “foot” in Philippians 4:4-9. Since the battle with Satan goes on in the mind our minds need to be secured against his wiles. Transforming our minds is the way to secure them and Paul gives us a plan of action.
The first step is to live in God and not in our circumstances. “Rejoice in the Lord.” (vs 4). When we derive our happiness from the good things that happen, we will lose it when things go wrong.
Secondly, we are to “let (y)our gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (vs 5). We must not punish other people for the way we feel. God hasn’t gone anywhere. He is still near and He’s in charge!
Thirdly, we must be honest with God about our anxieties. “Don’t be anxious about anything.” (vs 6). It‘s not our problem that’s the problem; it’s our anxiety that blocks the channel of our faith. We must confess our anxiety to God and He will exchange it for His peace.
Lastly, Paul says, “Fill your mind with good things and the God of peace will be with you. He will powerfully support you and act for you.” (vs 8,9).
Since the battle is in the mind and Satan’s ploy is to unbalance us, we need both feet of peace with God and the peace of God to stand firm.