In Ephesians 6 we have a description of the Christian being asked to put on the full armour of God. It all sounds very exciting as we see the helmet and breastplate, the shield and sword. We imagine looking like a Roman soldier. The description ends with some basic footwear that almost seems unimportant when it states “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” But maybe this is a missing accessory in our lives.
When it comes to sharing our faith we all know what we are expected to do, we know where we should be doing it and we know when. We are regularly reminded that we are Jesus’ hands and feet and that those in our lives are depending on us to tell them about their need for Jesus. We hear the success stories of the church evangelists who can boldly go where no man has gone before! No, they’re not doing this in Africa or China. Somehow they are bold enough to share the gospel wherever they go in their daily lives and win people for Christ.
Most of us listen in admiration to these “gifted” Christians and feel a little lower class. Maybe God will give us this gift. Maybe we need to be perfected in our faith and then we’ll be like them. Or maybe we’ve given up. It’s just too hard to live up to this expectation and we’ve decided to just let our lives shine for Jesus and we’ll see if anyone notices.
So as much as we know what we ought to do, we are not so willing to do it. Why? Maybe we’re missing our shoes. The shoes in Eph 6 are the preparation of the gospel. It’s the “how to do” rather than the “what to do” that seems to be missing. And this may well be the key to our willingness to share Jesus with those around us.
If we don’t have shoes on then we can’t go far at all on rough terrain and will not last the day even on flat ground. In fact I recently had a shoe wear out. Two things happened. I first noticed it when it rained and I got a wet sock. I then saw that the sole had broken and realized that I had been getting a sore foot the last few days but had not realized why. The shoe was no longer providing adequate support but it took the rainy day to reveal the cause.
What’s interesting is that our feet decide where we will go. We’ll not tread into difficult terrain unless we are prepared or we won’t get far. If we think we can do a long bush walk without hiking shoes we’ll find out the hard way. Maybe this is what we’ve done with the gospel. We’re tried to go out with the wrong shoes on and got hurt. Now we are reluctant to do it again. It’s not comfortable terrain and we know what happened last time.
So consider your feet. Do you think this might be true for you too? Maybe in reading this you’ve realized there is something missing. It explains why you are so reluctant to share the gospel. There is hope. This is actually the case for most Christians and the solution is much easier than you think. You don’t have to change into a “so called” evangelist to do this. You just need some basic tools at hand and you will be amazed at what the Lord can do through you. So like me with my broken shoe maybe you’ve got “wet feet” or simply sore feet but now it’s time for you to have “happy feet”. You know the gospel is not called “good news” for nothing. I’m sure you know the scripture that we used to sing: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness. Our God reigns.”
I have recently learnt that your personal testimony is one of your greatest ways of sharing your faith but many are not comfortable to start a conversation that would enable them to share it. So one effective way to be witnesses is to write it out, print it and then offer it to people you meet where you work, study, shop or see other people. Giving it at an appropriate moment is important to consider. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you. Maybe you are able to offer someone assistance or show care or understanding before you give them your story. You may feel comfortable to explain a bit about yourself and how your experience might help them.
Then, next time you see that same person, ask them what they thought! Check if they understood what salvation is and whether they feel they need to be saved. It’s as simple as that. Remember the verse in Revelation 12:11 where “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”.
Jesus gave us the commission to witness of him and the result will be that others will also believe. How amazing is this freedom to share your faith knowing this result is possible! We need to be reminded that it is not our job to convert someone but this is the work of the Holy Spirit. We just need to explain salvation and look to see who is ready to receive.
By having a printed copy of your testimony always ready to use a strange thing happens. You are prepared! You are set free from time constraints. You are able to give people time and space to absorb the message of salvation. And most of all you are giving something extremely personal, your story.
Imagine the effect of just giving away the story of what God has done for you. To me this is the preparation that will set you free to share your faith every day. You will find yourself adding more to your preparation as people will open up with questions back to you. There are many tools that you may want to add as you see the need such as gospel tracts, CDs with messages, books etc. These tend to be more the followup of having connected with people rather than the introduction.
So I encourage you to put on your happy feet and share the good news. You will be amazed and never look back.