Well Dressed Feet

Lesson 21 - July 15, 2012

WELL DRESSED FEET

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:and he delighteth in his way."  Psalm 37:23

    When I was young my mother always had a thing about making sure our shoes looked good, especially for Sundays. Every Saturday night, she would get our shoes out and clean them, polish them… and have them laid out neatly for church the next day.  My sisters and I had a pair of shoes that we wore only to church, a pair that we wore everyday to school, and a pair of tennis shoes or play shoes.  We were not like most Ukrainians -- we didn’t really own any house shoes.  We lived in the south and I ran barefoot through the house; and in the summer I ran barefoot outside.  Our yard always had nice green grass - and I still remember coming in at night and my feet would be stained green.  Our church shoes and school shoes were bought from a nice store but our play shoes were usually purchased at the local second hand store.  Since I was the oldest, I usually got the newer shoes and then they were passed down to my two sisters. 

      I can remember always getting into trouble about my shoes. My mother would say, “Judy, you are tearing up those shoes… How will Jackie ever be able to wear them?”  There was a  merry-go-round on our playground at grade school. That merry-go-round was one where we'd all hold on, run around the sides and then jump on. I just loved to sit on that merry-go-round, daydream, and just drag my feet across the dirt and rocks and it did some awful things to the tips of my shoes.

     My mother always seemed to be on us girls about our shoes, and I've grown to know that she was right. Our whole appearance can be spoiled by our shoes. If you have on a $1000  dress and have dirty or scuffed shoes, your appearance wouldn't be too attractive. It wouldn't matter how much you paid for your dress, people's eyes would be drawn to your feet. It makes a difference that they are clean and well kept.

Shoes are important because our feet are important. Our feet take us places and what we put our feet determines what direction we’re planning to go. What we wear on our 'spiritual' feet is just as important too. How we walk and how our steps are ordered will have an impact on us and those around us. Sometimes we need to be a little more selective on what shoes we find ourselves wearing as a Christian.

What Kind of Shoe Fits You?

1.  Flats - Unexciting:   I know this may sound silly to you.  But, imagine flat shoes - as applied to our Christian life.  Sometimes we find ourselves kind of  “flat”.  We need motivation.  Sometimes we feel like we are just floating along in our Christian life - almost like a dead fish that floats down the river… not much happening.  Yes, we go to church and listen to the preaching but our prayer life isn’t like it is suppose to be.  Our personal devotional time is not what it is suppose to be. Maybe even sin has found root in our lives.    We find that we need to get energized and get excited about living the Christian life.  In Psalms 51:12, David says to the Lord, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."  He had lost something - something very precious.   In other words, David was saying -- please let the joy of my salvation return.  This means that he had once know the happiness of being a close friend to God - but that joy had been taken away from him because of sin.  Sometimes we need to walk beyond our borders -- something out of our comfort zone and do more for Christ.

2.  Heels - UP-LIFTING.  I have always had a problem wearing heels -- for one thing, I am already tall and another is I have poor balance.  But I love looking at others ladies wearing heels.  

      One example of someone who was an up-lifter was Barnabas.  We find Barnabas first mentioned in Acts 4:36,37  -- he was such an encourager that they changed his name from Joses to Barnabas.   He became an encouragement to so many people when he voluntarily sold his land to help provide for the daily necessities for the Christians in Jerusalem.  We do not know if Barnabas was a wealthy man -- he may have given all he had to help others in need.   His giving was a great source of courage, hope and encouragement to others. They would become encouraged by the fact that God had answered their prayers -- that God had laid on the hearts of Christians in other cities to give even when things did not always go smoothly!   It would also give them the courage to share with others who were also in need.  Barnabas was such a godly example that he later went with Paul on several missionary journeys.  There are 28 verses in the New Testament that talk about Barnabas.  This one Bible example should be an inspiration to us that we too may become "encouragers" like Barnabas. 

     Do you find yourself lifting people up? Are you an encourager?   What a great pair of shoes to wear.  We all have times when we need encouragement so think how important it is to give it as well as receive it. "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."  1 Thessalonians 5:11

3.  Tennis Shoes - Running away  Do you find yourself running from your problems?  Sometimes we all feel this way -- Is there some place I can go to escape this problem?  We hope that if we just don't think about our problems, they'll just go away (like in the cartoons where the ostrich hides his head in the sand when she is afraid).   However, if we would just lean on God's strength a little more, we'd be able to better handle things that comes into our lives. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.   Prov. 3:5,6

• Jonah Ran:  He thought he could run from God.  God had called him to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:2) but Jonah FLED and set sail to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3) which was actually in the opposite direction.  God wanted Jonah to tell a nation about His love and mercy.  Jonah did not want to do as God had told him.  He wanted to see this city destroyed.  Nineveh was the great enemy of his people. Perhaps Jonah had seen first-hand these cruel, ruthless and bloody Ninevites which came down periodically to his land and raid the Jews. Perhaps he had even suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of these merciless people. The Ninevites were brutal and godless and sinful -- and Jonah hated them.   Jonah also knew that God was merciful and loving, and that He would/could save them.  So he decided he would try to flee from God -- even though he was a prophet, he knew from the scriptures that God was everywhere. Where did he expect to hide?
• Elijah Ran:  Elijah ran from Jezebel in I Kings 19:2?   Elijah was a mighty prophet of God but when faced with a challenge, he thought it best to run.  He actually thought he was running for his life.  I really don’t understand why Elijah doubted that God would protect him this time. Elijah was focused on the evil Queen Jezebel instead of on the all-powerful God. This is like looking at a beautiful rose bush and seeing only thorns!  Elijah ran as far as his legs could carry him. He traveled over 90 miles away from Jezebel. He fled out of fear.  Elijah should have realized that no problem was too big for God - not even Queen Jezebel.  It is amazing that this same Elijah, who had just seen God rain down fire on Mount Carmel - who had seen the clouds open after a long drought now feels discouragement and disappointment. 

      At times, many of us are guilty of doing what Jonah and Elijah did. Even though God has taken away our sin, given us a new life, and continues to pour out His blessings on us, when something goes wrong, that one thing (the problem/challenge) is all we can see.  When we face obstacles or challenges, we need to fix our hearts and minds on Jesus.    Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

      There is a race to be run -- Hebrews 12:1.  But we need to be running toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are not to be weary in our run.  We just need to make sure we are running in the right direction.

4. Boots - Prepare to take a stand   I know that in Ukraine, many women use boots as a fashion statement.  But out in the villages, boots are used for a different reason.  They are for comfort and protection.  The Bible says in Ephesians 6:15 that our feet are to be shod with what? The preparation of the gospel of peace.  This is definitely a picture of what ancient soldier wore to guard their feet. The Greek text literally says, “having under-bound the feet” that is, having shoes or boots bound on. The protection of the feet and ankles consisted of two parts.

      In Biblical times, soldier’s shoes/sandals were fitted with nails or spikes so that the soldier could maintain a firm footing (steadfast -- unmovable).  Then boots were fitted to the legs and designed to defend them from any danger.  The  upper parts of these boots (I Sam. 17:6) were made of brass and were generally used among the Greeks and Romans.  These attachments protected the soldier if another wanted to strike a low blow.

    The word "preparation" is a Greek word that refers to the ‘firm footing or solid understanding’.  This means that we, as Christians, should have a firm and solid understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  AND this alone is good reason for us to take a stand.  When the devil comes at us with all of his deception and tricks, we should have an awareness of who he (Satan) is and we need to make sure that we have a firm understanding - a firm footing - in the FAITH of Jesus Christ. 

• Each of us needs to be at peace with God. This is the firm foundation beneath our feet. Someone once said, "No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace."  This statement echoes the words of Isaiah: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 'There is no peace,' saith my God, 'to the wicked'" (Isaiah 57:20-21).

• Each of us need to stand fast in the peace of God. This involves casting all of our cares and anxieties on Him (I Peter 5:7) and yielding to His perfect will (Matthew 11:28-30). "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15). The peace of God will become a reality to us as we abide in Christ.

• ·Each of us are called to go and preach the Gospel of peace to the nations.  When Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach, He instructed them to bless a household they were invited to enter by saying, "Peace be to this house" (Luke 10:5). However, He also instructed His disciples to "shake off the dust" from their feet and let their peace return to them when people did not receive them (Luke 9:5-6). Why? Because those who reject the Gospel of peace are rejecting God's salvation.

5.  Sandals - Back to the old ways  Jer. 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.   Sandals have been around since the beginning.  Men and women wore them in the OT and even Jesus wore them.  We still wear them today.  People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them are economy (sandals require less material than shoes and are usually easier to construct) and comfort.  Usually, people wear sandals in warmer climates in order to keep their feet cool and dry

      In Jeremiah 6:16 the prophet exhorts us with regard to the old paths.  He uses the illustration of a man standing at an intersection, or at a fork in the road, watching.  This man is probably a traveler, a pilgrim. At these crossroads he must decide which way he will take.  There are different options.  There are new ways, recently built wide and easy to travel roads.  He observes, and he sees many people travel along these ways.  He knows he must find the old path, and so he asks some of those passing by where the old path is.  No one seems to be able to tell him.  They are all set on following the new way.  Finally, he finds an older traveler and asks him, and the man points him to a narrow well worn trail, hidden in the bushes.  The man says, “That is the ‘good way.’  Yes, almost everyone else travels the new way, but that is the good way that will lead to peace and rest.”

* Ask for the Old Path: The old paths are doctrine and are based on scripture.  The old paths state that Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6).  The old paths are Scripture’s teaching about man and who we really are – totally sinful and unable to save ourselves (Romans 3:10).  The old paths include what Scripture says about the cross and that He (Jesus) shed his blood and died for all men (John 3:16).  The old paths teach about the grace of God which is to all who will receive (Titus 2:11).  The old paths teach that we have a great commission to go and tell others (Mark 16:15). 

* Walk in the Old Path:  We are to follow the intended path that God has given to us; a way of Christian living, set down in His Word.  

Walk in the Spirit    Gal. 5:6

Walk in newness of life    Romans 6:4

Walk in love    Eph 5:2

Walk in wisdom    Col. 4:5

Walk in truth    3 John 1:4

Walk in the light    1 John 1:7

*  Set Up Sign Post in the Old Path:  In the Old Testament, Israel was commanded on several occasions to set up landmarks to show travelers the way to go and the way to return (Jeremiah 31:21).  In Genesis 28:18 Jacob made a pillar of stone and poured oil on it and named the place Bethel. Twenty years later, Jacob returns to the place and the stones were still there - marking the place - a reminder that God had met him there.

Time and Time again, the Old Testament memorials were made to show the people the way to God.  Today, we need to be setting up landmarks or sign post to show the old paths.

     What are some of the ways that we can set sign post up along the way?

6.  House Shoes -  Comfort  After a weary long day at work or a day of walking in the bazaar or just being on your feet all day, nothing is more relaxing, than going home, taking off your shoes and slipping into a pair of your favorite house shoes.   Besides all that, it is cultural to do so here in Ukraine.  We do not wear outdoor shoes inside. House shoes are cozy, easy to clean, easy to slip on and off --- just down right comfortable!  When it comes to your Christian life, do you find yourself like the house shoe slipper?   It’s affordable, easy to slip on and off, comfortable.

     Going to church is like putting on a pair of house shoe slippers.  We get to come home for a few minutes on Sunday and/or Wednesday night -- slip into our comfort zone, fellowship with other believers (our family), and dine around the Word of God.  But then we need to take these house shoe slippers off and go back into the world - Mark 16:15.  We need to  have the mind of Christ and serve Him.  

      We should push away from the table (so to speak) and get out of our comfort zone and live the way God intended us to live.  Hebrews chapter 11 is our “Hall of Faith” and now Hebrews starts 12 starts with the word “Wherefore” and it is a challenge for us.  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”   Because of this cloud of witnesses and because we are looking unto Jesus, we need to keep on.  The answer is to get our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.  This is a call for us to have a determined focus. We are to be looking at Jesus and nothing else!

Conclusion:

I know I don't always put on the right pair of shoes but I hope I can improve at wearing the type of shoes that are well fitting of a Christian woman. The kind of style that enhances my walk with the Lord. If not, I know it will affect my whole appearance as a Christian.