Put Your Shoes On
by Clyde Blyleven
A few years ago, I was visiting my son and his family. It was a joy to spend time with the family, especially our young granddaughter. They lived on a small ocean inlet with a community dock. Walking on the dock took you out into the bay where fish were jumping and neighbors had set out crab pots. I was anxious to share this experience with my granddaughter; to share the joys of the water—its smells, its beauty, its immense majesty reaching out to the ocean beyond. I asked her to put on her shoes and take a walk. However, she was not interested and wanted to stick to playing with her toys in the house. My encouragement to put her shoes on and come with me was met with disinterest because she didn’t know what she was missing.
God calls us to put our shoes on and see what He will do for us; what He will show to us:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 ).
Jesus called Peter out onto the water:
“‘Come,’” the Lord said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:29).
Peter put his shoes on and walked on water, if only for a short time. I can only imagine the exhilaration Peter felt while he was on top of the water.
When we put our shoes on and walk with Jesus, we will clearly see the path to salvation laid out for us. Some of us have a beautiful stroll—along a mountain stream; some of us have a tough stroll—the desert path with vipers and desolation; some of us walk with great fellowship surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses; and some of us walk a lonely path. The great thing is these paths all end up in the same place: Heaven. We can take comfort that God knows us and chose each path specifically for us; His plan is for us to be with Him. We just need to put our shoes on and follow Him. See what He has in store for us along our journey to be with Him for eternity.
It has been many years since that visit with our granddaughter. She eventually joined me on the walk to the dock. I never stopped asking her, and she finally enjoyed the trip. Enjoy your walk with Jesus.
Heavenly Father, all praise and glory are Yours along Your paths for life. Thank You for making the paths, thank You for showing us the paths, and thank You for shoes. Amen.