Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I really don’t know where to start. Recent days have been really difficult for me. I am in the midst of a struggle that has taken me down a long road and has brought some major struggles into my life.
Let me explain. Over a year ago I started having trouble with me feet. They hurt so bad at times I couldn’t think about anything except how bad they hurt. I went to the doctor and he sent me to physical therapy. There were times when I thought it was working but in the long run it didn’t.
I bought several pairs of shoes that I was told would help with the pain.. I bought some inserts from the Good Feet store that were supposed to add relief to the pain I was experiencing. All in all, I can’t tell you how much I’ve invested in the shoes and inserts.
I now have 8 pair of shoes that I wear. I will wear one pair for a period time then find myself starting to swap out for another pair. I wish I could say that I found the proper pair, but I haven’t at this time.
The truth is I might wear one as I begin a day then find that I have to change to another pair. Some are really supportive while others just don’t have all that I need. It is really tough trying to get this shoe thing lined out.
Yet there is one area of my life where I don’t have that trouble. That is in my walk with the Lord. I try to do what needs to be done so that I am moving forward with Him.
One Scripture that really speaks to me is Ephesians 6:14-16. It says -- 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Paul first of all says to ‘stand firm’. That means that you must have everything in place. He says ‘having girded your loins with truth.’ Being dressed for what is ahead of you and ready to do battle. Of course that means putting on the ‘breastplate of righteousness.’ That means standing in right relationship with the Lord and being righteous.
Then he says ‘having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.’ Bear with me. That means to have the right ‘shoes’ on as you move forward. Letting the gospel of peace be that in which you stand. It is a matter of letting the gospel be that which you wear as you walk through life. It’s like finding the right shoes to wear so that you can do what needs to be done.
The shield of faith is that faith that holds to God and His Word in all we face. When we hold to our faith in God no matter what satan throws at us, we’ll be able to toss it aside. We will be able to stand against it and move forward.
I may not be able to stand on my feet as I have in years past, but I can still ‘stand firm’ knowing that God is walking beside me. I can still ‘gird my loins with truth’ and stand in what God has shown me. I can still have that ‘breastplate of righteousness’ to toss aside all that satan throws at me.
I can still ‘shod my feet’ with the gospel so that I am ready to tell satan that I may not be able to get around like before, but I can still share the gospel with those I encounter. I may not be sharing the Gospel from the pulpit each week, but I can still share God with all that I encounter and so can you.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the retired preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
