Shoes

(photo from fanpop,com)

In my world, we have a plethora of shoe styles, though in third world countries  the average citizens often go barefoot; the soles of their feet becoming tough at an early age.

For us, life is easier when our feet are properly (or beautifully) shod. Man has designed snow shoes to more effectively trek across deep snow. We have so many sports shoes it makes my head spin; walking shoes, running shoes, basketball shoes, football cleats, golf shoes, cross-fit shoes, ballet slippers, tap shoes, etc.

In our culture, people spend mega-bucks on shoes, and even the closets we put them in. Whether it’s the best sports shoe or the fanciest heels, women in particular, are stereotyped as shoe collectors, squandering huge portions of our paychecks on footwear.

Shoes are vital to our attire, our performance, and the protection and comfort of the wonderful body parts we call our feet. It makes sense, to me, that at some point, shoes would be mentioned in the Word of God.

Moses was told to take off his shoes at the burning bush encounter because he was standing on holy ground. But, over in Ephesians 6 we’re instructed to put on a warrior’s attire. This includes a specific type of footwear; shoes made of peace. What might these shoes look like? Peace isn’t a fabric like leather. Let’s look at a few verses from scripture and the meaning of the word peace found there.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…” – Romans 5:1-2 NIV

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15 NIV

In both places, according to my Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for peace means: “one”, “quietness”, or “rest”, combined with “being made at one again”. We need to be at peace with God (being made one with Him again) and with ourselves (not waging an internal war over our past, current circumstances or even future events) to effectively present the gospel in our world and to face life’s everyday battles victoriously.

At last weekend’s conference, I listened as Joyce Meyer taught on living from a place of rest and resting in Christ. She pointed out that the first full day of life on Earth for Adam and Eve consisted of a day of rest; day seven, where even God rested from His work. This is where our purposes are realized and we can begin to walk in them.

Without this peace, or rest, with and in God and within ourselves, walking through life will be as painful as bare feet on broken glass. Both arenas of peace are acquired only through Jesus Christ. In Him, whether our feet are bare or wearing Army boots, our feet are beautiful.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of them which bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” – Isaiah 52:7 NIV

“And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” – Romans 10:15

Or as our pastor put it, “…how beautiful are the feet that kick down the doors of the enemy [setting the captives free]?”

What are your shoes made of?

(photo from theguardian.com)

(photo of sneakers from en.wikipedia.org; photo of brown suede shoes from tafreehmella.com; photo of funky looking sports shoe from dress-dress.com, my apologies, the caption feature of blogspot wouldn't work on those photos for some reason.)