Whatever difficulty you experience in order to bring the story of Jesus to others is worth it. Ask God to give you feet ready to go wherever he calls you to share the Gospel of peace.
Hey, I just purchased a brand-new pair of shoes, and that’s a milestone!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and when you do not walk – such as myself – your shoes never wear out. My shoes can last me ten years or more and still look brand spanking new. The soles that have never touched dirt, gravel, pavement, or even carpet always stay shiny and pristine. I should say, though, that I did have some old sandals that got mud-stained in a monsoon in the Philippines back in the 1980s – and you know what? I treasure those stains. I had been wearing those sandals ever since I had gotten out of the hospital in the late 1960s. But after the Philippines, after those sandals were nearly ruined with mud, I just had the hardest time tossing them aside. Those mud stains reminded me of the scores of disabled Filipinos who came to Christ that very night, in the storm, as we huddled together away from the downpour. I shared the Gospel above the roar of that rain pelting the roof of the conference center. Mud was everywhere. We all got soaking wet. But, oh, was it good to get my sandals dirty bringing the Good News to people who needed Jesus!
I think of that experience long ago in the Philippines whenever I read Ephesians 6 where it says, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” My feet are as paralyzed now as the day of my spinal-cord injury decades ago. But, oh, I want my feet to remain fitted with the readiness to share the Gospel. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News, right?
And I pray that your feet take you into places where people need the Gospel of Jesus: walking the hallways of a nursing home or a homeless shelter, walking the sidewalks in your neighborhood where people have yet to hear about Christ, walking to city or community parks, or walking your pet to a dog park! Meeting people, talking to people, engaging with people. All these are places where you meet people every day – people who need to hear about Christ.
The pair of shoes that are on my feet right now, I purchased them on Amazon for $15 and I wear them constantly. The soles still look new since I’ve never used them for walking. The truth is, though, even though my shoes may not get a lot of mileage, my wheelchair logs lots and lots of miles. Traveling is not easy for me, but the Lord has sent me to visit more than fifty countries with the Gospel of peace – countries like the Philippines; countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and in Latin America. And as a quadriplegic logging all those miles, it has not been easy. And it may not be easy for you when you walk into places you’ve not been before. But whatever the inconvenience or difficulty, hardship or physical and emotional wear-and-tear we experience to bring the story of Jesus to others is worth a thousand times over. So, take a look at your shoes – the ones that you are wearing right now – and would you pray with me today? Pray, “Lord Jesus, I would love the privilege to speak for you today. I do not know how it’s going to happen, where I will be, what new place my feet will take me, or whom I might encounter, but when the opportune moment comes, let me be bold. Holy Spirit, open my mouth to say words that turn conversations toward you. Today, may my feet have a readiness to share the Gospel in Jesus’ name. Amen.” So, friend, put your shoes on, get walking, and give the Gospel. Go today to joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends