Runnymede Christian Fellowship, a church in Egham

CHRISTIANS are meant to be steadfast, active, moving, progressing, ascending; hence, their feet are carefully provided for. They are feeble in themselves and need protection. Their road also is rough, and hence they need the shoes which grace provides.

I. LET US EXAMINE THE SHOES. 1. They come from a blessed maker, one who is skillful in all arts and knows by experience what is wanted, since he has himself journeyed through life's roughest ways.
2. They are made of excellent material: "the preparation of the gospel of peace;" well-seasoned, soft in wear, lasting long.

• Peace with God as to the past, the future, the present.
  
• Peace of full submission to the divine mind and will.
  
• Peace with the word and all its teachings.
  
• Peace with one's inner self, conscience, tears, desires.
  
• Peace with brethren in the church and the family.
  
• Peace with all mankind: "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom. 12:18).

3. They are such as none can make except the Lord, who both sends the gospel and prepares the peace.
4. They are such shoes as Jesus wore and all the saints.
5. They are such as will never wear out. They are old, yet ever new. We may wear them at all ages and in all places.

II. LET US TRY THEM ON. Observe with delight— l. Their perfect fitness. They are made to suit each one of us.
2. Their excellent foothold. We can tread with holy boldness upon our high places with these shoes.
3. Their marching powers for daily duty. No one grows weary or footsore when he is thus shod.
4. Their wonderful protection against trials by the way. "Thou shalt tread on the lion and adder" (Ps. 91:13).
5. Their pleasantness of wear, giving rest to the whole man.
6. Their adaptation for hard work, climbing, and ploughing.
7. Their endurance of fire and water (Isa. 43:2). By peace of mind, we learn to pass through every form of trial.
8. Their fighting qualities. They are really a part of "the whole armour of God." (See the chapter in which the text is found.)

III. LET US LOOK AT THE BAREFOOTED AROUND US.

• The sinner is unshod, yet he kicks against the pricks. How can he hope to fulfill the heavenly pilgrimage?
  
• The professor is slipshod or else he wears tight shoes. His fine slippers will soon be worn out. He loves not the gospel, knows not its peace, seeks not its preparation.

"Put shoes on his feet" were among the first words of welcome to the returning prodigal. To be shoeless was in Israel a mark of great disgrace, indicating a lost inheritance, a state of misery, and penury (Deut. 25:10).

The Chinese advertise shoes, which enable the wearer to walk on the clouds. Compare Isaiah 4:31: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint:" "Run with patience, looking unto Jesus" (Heb. 12:1-3.)

"Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:151. The passage has been paraphrased, "Shod with the firm footing of the solid knowledge of the gospel:" The word "preparation" signifies preparedness or readiness. Compare 2 Timothy 4:2: "Instant in season, out of season"; also Romans 1:15: "I am ready to preach the gospel." This preparedness is well-pleasing to God. "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! (Song of Sol. 7:1; Isa. 52:7). — Mrs. Gordon

Christian in the palace Beautiful: "The next day they took him, and had him into the armory, where they showed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breast-plate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the heaven for multitude." — Bunyan

None can make a shoe to the creature's foot, so that he shall go easy on a hard way, but Christ; he can do it to the creature's full content. And how doth he do it? Truly, no other way than by underlaying it, or, if you will, lining it with the peace of the gospel. What though the way be set with sharp stones? If this shoe go between the Christian's foot and them, they cannot much be felt.

It is the soldier's shoe that is meant, which, if right, is to be of the strongest make, being not st) much intended for finery as for defense.

The gospel shoe will not come on thy foot so long as that foot is swelled with any sinful humor (I mean any unrighteous or unholy practice). This evil must be purged out by repentance, or thou canst not wear the shoe of peace.

The Jews were to eat their passover with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand, and all in haste (Exod. 12:11). When God is feasting the Christian with present comforts, he must have this gospel shoe on; he must not sit down as if he were feasting at home, but stand and eat even as he takes a running meal in an inn on his way, willing to be gone as soon as ever he is a little refreshed for his journey.

The conceited professor, who hath a high opinion of himself, is a man shod and prepared, he thinks; but not with the right gospel shoe. He that cannot take the length of his foot, how can he of himself fit a shoe to it?

Is not thy shoe, Christian, yet on? Art thou not yet ready to march? If thou hast it, what hast thou to dread? Canst fear that any stone can hurt thy foot through so thick a sole? — William Gurnall

Paul was thus shod: Romans 8:38: "I am persuaded, nothing shall separate me from the love of God:' "All things, I know, work together for the good of them that are beloved of God" (Rom. 8:28). And this furniture made him go such hard ways cheerfully, in which showers of afflictions did fall as thick as hailstones. This doth make God's children, though not in the letter, yet in some sort, tread upon the adder and the basilisk, yea, to defy vipers, and receive no hurt; whereas, if the feet be bared a little with the absence of this peace, anything causeth us sore smart. — Paul Bayne