“… by fitting your feet with the preparation
that comes from the good news of peace,”
(Ephesians 6:15, NET)
It’s the beginning of air conditioning (A/C) season and our A/C’s are even now working to keep our home comfortable in this summer’s high temperatures and humidity. To make sure the units are ready to go, Bruce performs a few electrical checks of the compressor and capacitor, cleans the condenser and evaporator coils, and makes sure there are no dead birds, wasp nests, or other critters that might interfere with their operation. While performing this preventive maintenance last weekend he got to thinking:
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, instructed the believers to prepare themselves for spiritual battle. Paul wrote that “… Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” (Eph 6:12) Paul commanded them to stand firm, and then provided four means by which they could do this: by fastening, by putting on, by fitting, and by taking up. What struck Bruce was the third participle, by fitting.
Paul wrote they were to fit “… your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace” (Eph 6:16). That good news is the gospel that has brought peace to the Christian and enables him or her to stand firm against temptation. It is also the gospel that enables us to move forward against our enemies. The key word here is “preparation.” We must do work ahead of time to make sure we are ready when the heat of battle rages around us. If we don’t do the upfront work, we will succumb to the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”
The work on the A/C units was a good reminder that we cannot skip the daily preventive maintenance of our spiritual lives by spending time with Him and His Word! Please pray that we will not neglect this needed preparation and that we will be a blessing to those with whom we work here at Heartland Conference Retreat Center. 🤠🤗
This week’s Blessings, Prayer Requests, and Schedule are here.
