The Sandals of Serenity

The sandals of serenity

            The Roman soldiers wore special military sandals known as caligae.  Craftsmen constructed caligae out of leather.  Caligae contained a thick, strong leather base under the foot that had metal hobnails in them for gripping the ground.  These hobnails were also used as a weapon.  They could be used to inflict damage upon the enemy in midst of combat.  Caligae also had straps that wrapped around the ankle.  These straps around the ankles could serve as ankle supports to help the Roman soldier to maintain his ground.

              Paul teaches the believer the importance of proper footwear in battle.  He instructs the believer to put on sandals of peace.  Not just any peace but the gospel of peace.  Why is peace an important component of the believer’s armor?  Victory cannot be achieved without peace of mind.  Worry and doubt always leads to failure.  It will also lead to the soldier second guessing, not only his own military abilities, but also the cause for which he is fighting.  Peace does the opposite.  Peace leads to confidence, which leads to victory. 

            For the believer, peace exists as a crucial part of the Christian walk.  It remains critical for the believer to know that they received salvation.  The enemy attacks this area first.  That is why the sandals of serenity are studded.   The studs or hobnails indicate that the believer possesses a greater ability to stand on his or her ground in the midst of battle.  This indicates a firm footing on a solid foundation, which is Jesus Christ.  The believer must know that his or her foundation is unmovable and why it is unmovable.  The Gospel of peace is the salvation message.  To those who hear it and are willingly receive it, it brings peace.  It brings with it freedom from stress, worry, hell, the wrath of God, and etc.  This information reassures the believer of the security that exists inside Christ Jesus and re-instills within the believer a peace that surpasses all understanding.[1]  This peace reassures them of their right standing with God.[2]  The gospel is so important that believers ought to preach its message everywhere.  It is a message that brings peace to all who receive it.  The message needs not to be preached necessarily through only words but also actions.  The Holy Ghost confirmed this in II Corinthians 3:2 where He informed the believer, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.”  The strongest sermon that anyone can ever preach is not with enticing words of men but, rather, it exists as the testimony of the believers through their everyday actions.  The believer must know that they are first a child of God. This brings peace but this peace sometimes departs from the believer and the believer must be reminded of Whom they serve.

            When battles arise, one of the first areas of the believer that the enemy attacks is his/her peace.  Believers must know where their peace originates.  The peace of believers originates not from this world or anything or anybody in it, originates from the Prince of Peace.[3]  Believer’s MUST remember Who they serve.  They serve the Christ, the Anointed One.  When trials and battles arise, believers must remember that He is peace.  Christ resides as the One Whom believers can trust in any occasion and circumstance because He is always petitioning the Father on their behalf.[4]  Christ not only exists as the Prince of Peace but He also enforces peace.

            Life inflicts worries and doubts upon believers but Christ sooths these worries and doubts.  In Mark chapter four and verses thirty-five through forty-one, a storm arose as the disciples and their Master crossed the Sea of Galilee.  The waves and winds beat upon the ship and the disciples feared for their lives and awoke the Master.  Jesus rebuked the storm with the words, “peace be still,” and the storm ceased.[5]  Just as the disciples worried, believers still experience worry in their lives.  Does this mean that God instructs the believer to worry or that they should worry?  Absolutely not!  However, when the believer does experience worry, they can know with assurance that they serve the Peace Speaker.  One of the first aspects of the sandals of peace for the believer to realize is that they know the Prince of Peace and that He is the Peace Speaker and Peace Maker but the believer must realize that there exists more to these sandals of serenity that are more formally known as the sandals of peace.

             The believer must know how to obtain peace within their lives regardless of situations.  The importance of the believer awareness of the origination of peace exists as a crucial element to their survival and a sure footing but the believer must also know how to obtain peace in every area of life.  They must use their sword and realize that no matter what happens in life that God cares for them and that they can place all of their worries and stress upon Him because He cares for them.[6]  The believer must also remember that God promised to provide for their everyday needs and to take care of them.[7]

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[1] Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

[2] Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

[3] Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

[4]  Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

[5] Mark 4:39 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

[6] I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

[7] Matthew 6:25-32 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, either do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”