Sandals - part of the Armor of God

Yes, I have more to say on the subject. I never would have thought that when I first saw the passage. It has such few words and isn't even a complete sentence! (See Ephesians 6:15 -NCV this time)

I thought about this piece of the armor a little bit. At first I was focused on preparedness. But looking through images for the previous post, and thinking a little about shoes in general, I gained a fuller understanding and visual image of this piece of armor.

Our study included a sentence about the footwear of the Roman soldier, who was certainly a prominent part of the culture when this passage was written. I found an image of that sandal. The shoe/sandal has long nails to ensure solid footing. The land in the Holy Land is sandy and rocky and hard. Slick bottomed sandals would not have been considered part of military equipment. So, to make them military armor, the nails were added.

Let's look at that and other purposes of shoes. The Roman soldiers had nails sticking through the bottom of their sandals to make them surefooted. We are to wear this piece of "armor" so that we are sure footed when spreading the Good News and when we are confronted with our enemy.

Today, shoes provide protection (think stubbing your toes, bunions, ingrown toenails, callouses, etc). Shoes provide support for good posture so leg pain and back pain are minimized. (Once your walking shoes lose their internal support structure, your legs hurt, right?) Getting a new pair of the right shoes can add a bounce to your step for long days on your feet. Ask a nurse about the importance of the right shoes!

Putting on the sandals of peace as part of the armor of God does what?
1) Provides sure-footing to prevent falls and help you move forward.
2) Provides support from the bottoms of our feet all the up our spine so we can stand tall and firm.
3) Protects us from injury.
4) Makes us ready to go.
5) The right shoes energize us for work.

The Word of God is a living document. This passage illustrates that. As we get more and more sophisticated, the nuances of the Bible explain more and more for a deeper understanding. Our sophistication does not make the Bible less relevant. Anyone who thinks so just doesn't have their eyes and minds open. The message doesn't change. Our ability to understand more of it changes.

Father, Thank you for the Living Word. Amen.

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