OK, so you're not REALLY barefoot--you're just BLUE--and BROKE--and now you hear they want to inspect your SHOES at the airport security and you'll have to be sure to have clean socks on (remember Mama's instructions to never go out without clean socks and clean underwear? She had no idea THIS would happen, did she!)
Well, like it or not, we are on the verge of 2002, and if all we do is listen to the news and read the papers, we WILL be barefoot and blue as we enter the New Year....but there's no need to do that...STEP right up in those bare feet...they are BIBLICAL, you know...and hear the word of the Lord to us today!
You don't believe "barefoot" is in the Bible?? Try the story of Moses in Exodus 3, when God met him at the burning bush. Meeting God in all His holiness was awesome--so much so that Moses was instructed to take OFF his shoes...he was standing on holy ground. An encounter with God will do that for you....and you WILL be barefoot, but with good reason. No toenail polish, no trendy new shoes, no Christmas socks--just the bare essentials--which is what God has been looking for all the time. He sees us "as we are" -- without the trimmings and trappings -- the REAL person deep inside--the person we may hide from public view--well, THAT'S the person He wants to touch and use this year!
Now if taking OFF your shoes is biblical, putting them ON is also biblical - check out Ephesians 6 and the Christian armor. After all the armor is in place, we're instructed to have our feet "shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace." Sandals were "in vogue" then--and while you may not have "Doc Marten's" now--that's ok--God doesn't look at the designer names, aren't you glad! He's just looking for dedicated servants with ready feet--people like you and me!
Are you "barefoot 'n blue" today? Then you're right at the biblical place where God will meet you, touch you, and then equip you to be HIS healing touch to a world He loves...it's just two steps forward--and HE'll do the rest!
Step One: Let's take OFF our shoes at the burning bush - and have a real encounter with our Lord. The blues must go when you meet your Blessed Lord--and it WILL happen when you have a "Burning Bush" experience with Him--alone in your desert--for that's where He finds us--at the point of our deepest need.
Step Two: Let's put ON our shoes at the Christian Armor Base - and get ready to step into the New Year with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His message of peace to a needy, hurting world. If ever our world needed HIS message, it's this year--POST 9-11--people need a peace that passes understanding and we have it--in the Gospel of Christ!
...and that's just a little "food for thought" from my heart to yours!
