Shoes of Peace

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (Ephesians 6:15 NLT)

I've often wondered exactly what Paul meant about putting on peace as shoes. What does that look like?  In the Roman world in which Paul lived shoes were made of soft pliable leather. Sandals were made of stiffer material such as wood or cane for rougher wear on long journeys. 

Shoes are used as a protection for our feet as we move around. The purpose of our feet is to give support and balance; transport us; help us move; assist in standing; absorb shock when we jump; and to hold up to one-half our body weight (not sure what happens to the other half!?)

As believers we are to put on the whole armour of God everyday in order to resist the enemy (6:13), still be standing firm after the battle (6:13), and to be fully prepared (6:15). 

So what does all this have to do with "putting on peace as shoes"?  Just as our feet were designed to be the shock absorbers for our bodies, the Peace from the Good News was meant to be the shock absorber in our lives.   

We think peace comes after the battle when in reality we must have peace to enter the battle and that can only come from already being absorbed in the Good News before the battles come. 

Then the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace, Jesus, will be our balance, our upholder, and our shock absorber. 

May my life and my days would be absorbed by his peace and not contention. As Paul's shoes were soft and pliable may I be pliable in Gods hands-not stiff fighting your purposes for my life.  Help me today Lord to rest in you so I will be an instrument of your peace wherever my feet may take me.  Only then will I be fully prepared to live in this world. 

Valued Talents

Close your eyes and it would seem the very angels from heaven are on stage when Susie sings.  When Pastor Smith preaches his eloquence demands attention and people are moved by his words.  The audience is taken back to another place in time when Sarah portrays the woman at the well feeling her anguish and then hope. Joe starts tickling the ivories and the whole church is brought to its feet in adoration of the amazing God we serve.  Music moves the heart and soul when nothing else can.

Ever feel like you can't sing, preach, teach, act, or play an instrument like _________?

How can God use me, I have no talent in these areas?  

While the above mentioned talents may bring us to an emotional awareness of God these 

aren't the only avenues God works through.  It's time we lower the bar in comparing and raise the bar in expectations. 

Jesus gives us two parables using the illustration of receiving talents and then investing them in Luke 19:11-27 and Matthew 25:14-30. Matthews’s parable connects to the following verses describing all nations and people gathered to the Son of Man to give an account of what they did for him and how they invested what he gave them on earth.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:31-40 NLT)

Notice how Jesus didn't ask what sermons were preached, songs sung or played, or even what favorite biblical character was portrayed. 

 

Here is the good news! These are the valued talents God has given to everyone.  We all have the opportunity and time to invest in someone everyday--no special abilities required other than an open and willing heart to be used.  

Comparison game gone, all are equally equipped. Expectation levels raised because the human touch accompanied with God's touch will always bring interest from the investment.

For the most part these talents are void of public accolades so if you and I are looking for recognition might want to choose a different path. 

  

Lord, help me not to get caught up in the comparison game. It is so easy to do because my flesh cries out for recognition. Help me to realize these talents are from you and you are expecting interest from the investment...for your honor not mine.  Today, may I be aware of those around me needing a touch of your grace in their lives.  

Family barnacles

Jesus asked, “Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17, 18 NLT)

Sometimes it takes the deeds or insight of an outsider to return value to a family, or family member, lost through years of fighting and misunderstanding. Senses become dull. Instead of appreciating individual differences and uniqueness we become intolerant of one another. 

Pride, selfishness and the dulling of senses can become like barnacles to a ship in a family. If barnacles are allowed to accumulate on a ship's hull, the ship will travel slower in the water, or it will have to burn more fuel to keep up its speed, than it would otherwise. A six month growth of barnacles can result in having to burn 40 to 45 percent more fuel to maintain cruising speed.  

As with the decrease in a boats speed from barnacles, it will take more and more effort to interact in a family consumed with the barnacles of pride, selfishness and hurt moving them away from healthy relationships to where intolerance is the standard.

Sounds like this was what was happening within the Jewish religious family. Leaders were consumed with pride in their positions, members were intolerant of anyone who wasn't a 'real' Jew.  It took an outsider, a dreaded Samaritan* to react in the manner the other nine family members should have.  

All ten were healed through their obedience to the command (vs 14), but the foreigner had something the others didn't...a thankful heart.  A grateful heart will always see beyond duty and obligation, and beyond pride and self.

*Non-Jewish people who partially adopted the Jewish religion, were never accepted by the Jewish people as one of them, and eventually became antagonists of the Jews. Originated about 700-600BC