Where Are My Shoes?

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation..." (Isaiah 53:7.)

Turns out that there are interesting references to feet in scripture.

In battle, the warrior put his foot on the neck of his opponent as a sign of victory. Other times, a person would voluntarily bow at the feet of another to show submission. Sometimes people put gifts at the feet of someone of authority.

When Moses approached the burning bush, he was commanded to take off his sandals because he was approaching holy ground. I assume this gesture was similar to people removing their dirty shoes before they enter anyone’s clean abode.

I often wonder if Mary had her shoes off when she sat at Jesus’ feet while he was at her house.

Then for the sake of God, there are times when we put our sandals on and get ready for action. Paul said part of our Christian armor are the sandals that we put on so we can carry the gospel of peace to the world.

Living well is knowing when to have our shoes off to worship God and when to put them on in serving God.

Isn’t it all the same? Isn’t worship part of service and isn’t service part of worship? Maybe, but we’re quibbling over word usage.

My point is that there are times to take off our shoes, get still, and contemplate godly things. It’s a time of mutual expression between God and us. Then there are times when we put on our shoes, and launch out to do works of service in His name.

I look forward to the time when every boot that has marched into battle will finally be set aflame and we will spend eternity with bare feet on holy ground.