Many lines of work require appropriate footwear, and this not only helps perform tasks more effectively, but can offer protection as well. A tradesman in the construction industry may need to wear steel toe boots whereas a ballet dancer will wear pointe shoes. You could not swap these without seriously affecting your performance in either case. Christians have special footwear as well: we need to strap our feet with the readiness, or preparation, of the gospel of peace.

Every piece of the armor of God is important, and Paul confirms this when he says, “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11). Consider a soldier going out to battle who remembers all his gear but runs out to fight in bare feet. They would certainly be at a disadvantage and unable to be as effective. Similarly, a Christian may have truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and so on, but if they are not prepared with the gospel of peace, they are essentially going around in bare feet.

The armor of God is necessary because we are being attacked by the enemy, yet through all this we need to have a burden for peace, and there is no true peace without the gospel. Are we prepared to share with others what Christ has done for us by going into death for the sake of our sin, and rising victorious from the grave? Paul could say, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Are we ashamed of the gospel? In whatever sphere we find ourselves we can, in simplicity, tell others about the good news: salvation through Christ.

Paul quotes Isaiah in Romans when he writes, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (10:15).