Walking in the Shoes of our Lord
"your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
We have girt up our loins with truth, covered ourselves in the righteousness of our Lord, and now, before we can venture forth we must cover our feet with the sandals of peace. It is time to step into the very shoes of our Lord and Savior and walk in them. You have heard the old saying that you can't understand a man until you have walked in his shoes. It is time to get to know your Lord, intimately.
Jesus is our example, He did it for you. He took on the flesh of a man and lived as a man. Suffering all, being tempted in all, just as we. He walked a lifetime in your shoes, now you must walk in His. How do we fill those shoes? We walk, as Jesus walked, in Grace, Forgiveness, and longsuffering. This was (and is) the very SON of GOD, yet He forgave the abuse He suffered, giving His life for all. This is where His shoes take us, up the Hill of Golgatha. We walk as a Living Sacrifice, Holy and acceptable. We live to serve, as Jesus washed the disciples' feet, so we serve the brethren. Without thought for our own suffering, we offer grace, forgiving all. As Jesus taught us; "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust".(Mat 5:44-45 KJV) "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(Mat 5:48 KJV)
If we are to wear our Lords shoes, we must walk His walk. We must seek, above all things, our Fathers Will. We must desire, above all things, the nuture of the saints. We are servants to all, as Jesus made Himself a servant. We forgive all, as Jesus forgave us. We willingly give our lives for the sheep, as Jesus gave His for us. If we wear His shoes, we walk the path of the suffering servant. We are obedient, even unto death, as Jesus prayed "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done".(Luke 22:42 KJV)
We have girt ourselves in the Truth, covered ourselves in the Righteousness of our Lord, shod ourselves in His Gospel of Peace. We have put on Christ, covering ourselves in Him, walking in Him, Living in Him. We no longer live, but it is Christ that lives in us. We must, if we are to move in this Holy Armour of GOD, become Christ, in thought and in deed. (John 15:4-5 KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. As we stand, armored for battle, it is not us but Christ in us that stands. If we stand , we fall. Only Christ can battle for us, through us. We offer ourselves as His instrument.
(John 17:22-23 KJV) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
You stand as the very body of Christ, a Holy Priest after the Order of Melchesidec. Perfect and acceptible in the eyes of GOD. A Lamb, without spot or blemish. You wear the covering of our Lord and Savior. It is time now to arm yourself for battle.