“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.“
Ephesians 6:14,15 [NIV]
“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’"
Romans 10:15 [NIV]
The gospel is referred, in the New Testament as; the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the Kingdom of God, the gospel of the grace of God, as well as the gospel of peace.
Gospel is "the good news”. The good news of what? I remember as a young boy hearing many sermons on “the good news”, unfortunately they all neglected to inform me what the good news was.
The good news of the Kingdom of God is a simple message, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. This gives us peace now and a future hope. This is the message we need to share with others; our loving God is preparing us now for a future beyond imagination and our lives need to be a response to that.
We can get very worked up over evangelism, we think we are failing; we find it hard or embarrassing or don’t see results, but imagine (or better help take part in making it reality) that God makes us a whole people, a happy people, celebrating our differences in unity, peacemakers, co-operating in an authentic, loving, powerful church community; a Gospel of peace. Then we will find natural outlets for love toward the people around us, the reality of Christ would be so evident that we could not keep from commending him; we would hardly need to, the Gospel would proclaim itself in word and actions.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Isaiah 52:7 [NIV]
Pray that God would give you beautiful feet!
Guy Mowbray
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