Gospel of Peace

Day 3, The Armor of God

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

              My mom described me as a precocious child. I enjoyed occupying spaces with adults and paid attention to conversations. A child of the eighties, commercials speaking against cigarettes were prominent, and I took everything in.

              My grandfather, born during the first year of the Great Depression, was raised on cigarettes. People did not recognize the dangers to lungs and throats and folks of his generation smoked and never thought twice about it.

              One afternoon, my grandpa and I were swinging on his porch. At first, we were swinging, watching the birds and waiting on the train to come by. Then, my three-year-old self turned to my grandfather and asked, “Papa, are your lungs black?”

              My grandpa sat quietly for a few moments. Finally, he responded, “Yes, I think they probably are.”

              We continued swinging in silence, then I asked another question. “Papa, are you gonna be alive when I get old?”

              As the story goes, that’s the day my grandpa quit smoking. Two simple questions from a precocious three-year-old impacted him enough to change his life for the better.

              The third piece of armor also required some intentionality on our part. After we put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, verse 15 of Ephesians 6 (NLT) says, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

              Our feet must be ready to go wherever God sends us. It might be to the classroom, down the hall, at the gas station, or parking the grocery cart. No matter where we are or what we do, we need to be prepared to ask questions or start conversations with anyone we encounter. Like the astute three-year-old I used to be, we need to care enough about others’ souls that we ask the hard questions, even when it’s uncomfortable. In the case of my grandpa, two questions were enough to remove a habit of over three decades. Imagine what could happen if we boldly asked others questions about their faith?

              The peace that comes when we know Christ is worth sharing with others. Knowing that Jesus loved me enough to die on the cross for my sins is overwhelming. He died so I didn’t have to. And he invited me to spend eternity with him in heaven. Knowing my destiny is secured in Christ gives me joy and confidence.

              This week, put on the shoes of peace. And remember the only reason you have peace is because Jesus gave it to you because of the freedom of the Gospel message. His life. Death. Burial. And resurrection. The chasm has been bridged. Don’t you want others to join you on the other side where freedom reigns and peace is supreme?

Do the Heart Work

1.      How does the Gospel message bring peace?

2.      Is it easy or hard to share the Gospel with others? Explain.

3.      How would you start a conversation with someone else about Jesus?

Digging Deeper

Read Romans 1:8-17 (NIV)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

  I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

              Paul couldn’t wait to get to Rome and share the good news with these folks. And what kept holding him up? Sharing the Gospel with other people.

If You Get Spare Time 

              Think back to the last time you shared the Gospel with another person. How did the conversation start? Did you know the person or were they a stranger? Was it natural or scary? Was this your first time or not? How did the other person respond?

              What if you’ve never shared the Gospel with another person? Spend time thinking about what is holding you back and why you’ve never shared. Paul tells us to put on the peace that comes from the Good News, which is the message of Christ. Ask God to give you boldness to begin wearing this piece of the armor every day.