The church is the body of Christ whose sole purpose is to take the Gospel to the world. We are called to walk the same lonely paths Jesus walked and be rejected and persecuted because of His name. However, in our zeal to make an imprint on the world we frequently put on evangelistic shoes that are one size too big and end up eclipsing the very footprints we were supposed to follow. Sadly, when the culture looks back and traces the path we beat to its door it sees only the impression of hypocritical high tops and not Jesus’ sandals. Jesus left some pretty big shoes to fill so we must constantly ask ourselves if we are overstepping our bounds or leaving a Gospel footprint. We will never be worthy to untie his sandals, but we should at least try to faithfully walk in His footsteps.

Jesus called us to hit the great commission road and even though it may be covered with secular dust, it is still Holy Ground to the Lord. So before we step out of our homes and churches and walk in His footsteps we need to take off our ecclesial sandals and resize them with a Biblical measure to make sure the shoe still fits. We are all called to conform to His image so the least we can do is get His shoe size right.

And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1: 7-8)