My Shoemaker
I was in the parking lot of a department store with my family and I realized that between us and the front door of the store were two rather intimidating fellows. They were tall, wearing loose clothing and gold chains and were talking loudly, swaggering towards the same door. I felt fear. I clasped my son’s hand a little tighter and walked closer to my wife who had the hands of our two daughters. It wasn’t logical, but I felt this cold dread that they might do or say something to us that I wouldn’t want. What could they do in such a public place? Still, I was a little afraid. What’s more, they were looking at my wife, who is quite attractive, and I didn’t want them to do that either. We entered the store, and they walked in behind us.
We went our separate ways in the store, but it wasn’t a big one, so we met them again in another isle. It was then that something profound happened. It wasn’t that I finally allowed logic to reign and understood that I was quite safe in that location, or that I considered the power of the adrenaline I would have at my disposal if my family was in jeopardy. It was something that hit me from above. It was like a light that shined down on me and I could see then what I couldn’t before. It was this: I am Christ’s Body here. I am His Ambassador, His Representative, and have His Authority and Power. The very Spirit of Christ lives in me, giving me limitless resources of strength and grace. It wasn’t that I asked for this to be so in that particular moment. It was true all the time. It was true while I was afraid. I didn’t make it any more true when I realized it. But knowing it, having this truth revealed to me made all the difference. Immediately, both of those guys lost several feet off their statures.
But there’s more. My fear was not replaced by pride or self-confidence. I wasn’t at all thinking about the safety of my family (or myself) anymore. I felt pity for these guys. They seemed so small and needy now. They thought they needed those outward personas to give them a presence in life. They were sinful people needing to know that Christ died for them – that Christ met all the requirements they were so sorely lacking. The same requirements I was so sorely lacking when I was lost and dead in sins. I think it’s safe to say that I even had some love for them in a strange way. I wondered now if they might say something to me, and what I could say as a Pilgrim and Stranger on the earth to point them to a Heavenly Saviour. I was ready. But the Lord didn’t make things go that way.
When we are told to “put on the whole armour of God” we are told to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” The Lord prepares us to be lights in the world. He cleans our lamps so that they shine brighter. This day was part of that process. As believers, we have the task of reckoning facts to be true. We have the job of counting on things to be the way God says they are. They don’t often appear to be so from our perspectives, but they are pretty limited perspectives wouldn’t you say? From the Lord’s vantage point, all things are clear. His word gives us that clarity. “Perfect love casts out all fear” we read. But we are alive in Christ to do more than just not be afraid. We are alive in him to be “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” I walk with the feet of Christ; dead, buried, raised and ascended with him, in union with Him, He in me and I in Him. He made it so. May I not live a lie. May my shoes be the Gospel, and the Cobbler my Lord Jesus.
BJ
We went our separate ways in the store, but it wasn’t a big one, so we met them again in another isle. It was then that something profound happened. It wasn’t that I finally allowed logic to reign and understood that I was quite safe in that location, or that I considered the power of the adrenaline I would have at my disposal if my family was in jeopardy. It was something that hit me from above. It was like a light that shined down on me and I could see then what I couldn’t before. It was this: I am Christ’s Body here. I am His Ambassador, His Representative, and have His Authority and Power. The very Spirit of Christ lives in me, giving me limitless resources of strength and grace. It wasn’t that I asked for this to be so in that particular moment. It was true all the time. It was true while I was afraid. I didn’t make it any more true when I realized it. But knowing it, having this truth revealed to me made all the difference. Immediately, both of those guys lost several feet off their statures.
But there’s more. My fear was not replaced by pride or self-confidence. I wasn’t at all thinking about the safety of my family (or myself) anymore. I felt pity for these guys. They seemed so small and needy now. They thought they needed those outward personas to give them a presence in life. They were sinful people needing to know that Christ died for them – that Christ met all the requirements they were so sorely lacking. The same requirements I was so sorely lacking when I was lost and dead in sins. I think it’s safe to say that I even had some love for them in a strange way. I wondered now if they might say something to me, and what I could say as a Pilgrim and Stranger on the earth to point them to a Heavenly Saviour. I was ready. But the Lord didn’t make things go that way.
When we are told to “put on the whole armour of God” we are told to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” The Lord prepares us to be lights in the world. He cleans our lamps so that they shine brighter. This day was part of that process. As believers, we have the task of reckoning facts to be true. We have the job of counting on things to be the way God says they are. They don’t often appear to be so from our perspectives, but they are pretty limited perspectives wouldn’t you say? From the Lord’s vantage point, all things are clear. His word gives us that clarity. “Perfect love casts out all fear” we read. But we are alive in Christ to do more than just not be afraid. We are alive in him to be “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” I walk with the feet of Christ; dead, buried, raised and ascended with him, in union with Him, He in me and I in Him. He made it so. May I not live a lie. May my shoes be the Gospel, and the Cobbler my Lord Jesus.
BJ
posted by BJ at 11:16 AM
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