March 19 - Shoes Off

  Read today’s texts first: Joshua 3-6; 1 Corinthians 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

While Nike is telling me to put on their shoes and
“just do it,” I’m taking my shoes off and saying
I can only do it with God’s help!

I grew up playing in the ravine behind our house. No matter where mom was in the house, when I came in through the back door she could somehow hear me, and I could clearly hear her: “shoes off!” Mom worked hard to keep our home clean and she didn’t want any of her six kids trailing the grime of the dirty world outside inside, on to her spotless linoleum!

Joshua heard the same thing from God, just like his mentor Moses did (5:15; Exodus 3:5). God’s

command had the same intent as my mom’s, sort of. This is holy ground - take your shoes off! Don’t bring the grimy sin of this world into My presence! That’s why Jesus taught us to confess our sins when we pray (Matthew 6:12) so that those contaminants can be removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

But for Joshua, taking off his sandals was more than just removing the sin of his past; it was a symbol of his humility and dependence on God moving forward. God promised to give Joshua the land everywhere he placed the sole of his foot (1:3). But He was now saying (clearly the Commander in this story was a Christophany, Jesus Himself), if you expect to take this promised land, you will have do it My way or no way.

When we face impossible circumstances, when there are walled fortresses in front of us that need to come crashing down, we can’t lace up our old boots and expect to kick down those walls ourselves. God often leads us into situations we can’t overcome in our own strength. He wants us to strip away our pride and humbly acknowledge our desperate need for His help (1 Cor. 4). “Lord, I do that today. While Nike is telling me to put on their shoes and “just do it,” I’m taking my shoes off and saying I can only do it with Your help. With Joshua, I fall at Your feet and ask, what does my Lord say to His servant (5:14).”