CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 816

“Where Have You Been?”

Exodus 3:4-5 (NKJV)  … God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

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I arrived home late last night after work and was greeted at the door by my wife armed with a scrub brush.  I am no longer allowed into the house with dirty shoes.  It seems that no matter how much I would wipe my feet on the door mat, some residue of where I had been during the day always found its way onto the carpet.

Our shoes tell a story about where we have walked.  Moses encountered God on Mount Horeb and Joshua later encountered the pre-incarnate Jesus outside of Jericho.  At both encounters these men were instructed to remove their sandals since they were standing on Holy Ground.

Our lifestyle characteristics and the day to day life decisions we make define our ‘walk’.  Our shoes metaphorically represent our lifestyle ‘walk’. The sandals of Moses and Joshua were encrusted with the debris of their past travels in a fallen, sinful world.  This had to be left behind as they approached a Holy God.  Standing barefoot left them vulnerable, humbled, and surrendered before God.

The removal of our shoes signifies the surrendering of our will.  We choose shoes to wear based upon where we want to go and what we want to do.  From slippers to Crocks to sneakers and hiking boots there seems to be a shoe for every sport and activity.  Do we approach a Holy God humbly surrendering our will to Him, or do we reserve the right to go our own way?

The removal of our shoes signifies leaving the past behind.  Are we repentant before a Holy God eager to be set free from the bondage of our past sinful life? Far too many people harden their hearts and leave God’s presence unchanged.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that … you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2

The removal of our shoes signifies our trust in God and our dependence upon Him.  Being barefoot leaves us vulnerable.  We need God to ‘carry us’ across the difficult, rocky times of our life. We are humbled and there is no room for pridefulness when we are standing on Holy Ground in the presence of our Lord.

It does not matter where you have been or where your feet have taken you in the past.  Jesus took the sandals off the feet of the disciples and washed their feet at the Passover meal before His crucifixion.  He remains willing today to help you let go of your past sin and to wash you clean.  It is only through Christ that you can stand on Holy Ground before our Creator God.

Consider this: With the presence of Jesus Christ in you, that wherever your lifestyle walk takes you is Holy Ground.  May you choose your steps accordingly.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:6