It’s a new year. It’s a new season. I have one question for you. What are those??? For those of you who don’t know what that question means let me explain. I currently work at an elementary school in Chattanooga, TN. My fifth graders like to joke around with me and one day they kept asking me, “Hey Mr. L! What are those???” They would point down to my shoes and I was really confused by this until one of the other students told me to look up the video on YouTube so I did. Apparently it is a joke that has become viral. As I watched this video I wondered how this was funny but then I heard the Lord speak something to me in my heart. “I’ve given my bride shoes to wear but she’s not wearing the ones I have given her, what are those?” I immediately began to talk to God about this and look at Scripture.
In Ephesians God doesn’t just give us shoes but a whole outfit. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit always with all kinds of prayer and supplication. To that end be alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:12-18. God tells us what shoes He has given us in verse 15, “having your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.” If God has given us these shoes to put on then what have we put on or have we put anything on? What are we even supposed to be doing with the shoes?
Every shoe has a purpose. There are all kinds of shoes; tennis shoes, boots, sandals, hiking boots, running shoes, heels, flats, etc. But what kind of shoe has God given us? God has given us the shoe of the Gospel. Why? Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” God wants us to go make disciples of ALL nations, not just our backyard or our home. As American’s we have become complacent and tired of walking. We have created cars, elevators, escalators, moving ramps in airports, bicycles, etc. These forms of transportation are great if used properly, but we have grown too lazy to really do anything, even for ourselves. As the American Christian Church, we go to service on Sunday and if we are ‘devout’ we go on Sunday night and Wednesday as well but what do we do? We just sit on a pew and let the pastor preach then we go home and go about our daily business. This is not what God wanted us to do. He didn’t say, “Go sit on a pew for me,” instead He said, “Go make disciples.” There are too many people who claim to be Christian yet they don’t want to feed their self the Word, be grounded in it and have their feet fitted with this Gospel like they should be. Hebrews 5:12 says, “For though by now you should be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God and have come to need milk rather than solid food.” What have we done in America? We have settled for the Church happy meal every Sunday with our shoes kicked off and our behinds in a pew instead of eating a steak and going to make disciples like God has told us. God is asking, “What are those? What are those shoes you’re wearing? What are you doing? What have you done to serve Me? What have you done with My Son Jesus?” Do you really know God? Do you really love people as God has commanded you? “Above all things, have unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins,” 1 Peter 4:8 If you love people then why aren’t you spreading the Gospel? If you love God then why aren’t you obeying God? It’s time for us to awaken, take off our house slippers and put on the shoes God has for us. It’s time to put the Gospel of Peace on and be ready to spread the Good News just like Christ wants us to do. So I ask one more time, “What are those???”
Please take time to think and reflect over this and while you are praying, please pray and consider helping me spread the Gospel to all nations. In August I will be starting an 11 month mission trip to 11 countries and I need to raise a total of $17, 361. Every penny counts. When you donate, you aren’t giving it to me but you are giving your money back to God to help advance His Kingdom. Please help me do this. I pray many blessings over you and your family. God will bless you and your giving. Thank you so much. Much love and many blessings to you.
