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When Moses climbed Mount Sinai and communed with God at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5), God established early the relationship between Holy ground and shoes.
“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”
Exodus 3:5
Maybe it’s because we all know the benefit of shoes. John the Baptist speaks of his unworthiness to untie Jesus’ sandals in Mark 1:7 (John [the Baptist] announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.”)
A humble power in the presence of shoes continue. Follow this not-so-straight line of God’s miraculous plan that often confounds the wise.
God’s plan sprung from the obedience of a sickly and shy Sunday School teacher. Edward Kimball (1823 – 1901).
Kimball’s class was filled with teenage boys. During one of his classes, Kimball asked the attendees to turn to a specific Bible chapter in the book of John. A boy, unfamiliar with the books of the Bible or the location of John, turned instead to the front of the Bible. Classmates laughed at him because he didn’t know the books of the Bible. Kimball, however, handed this boy his own Bible open to the correct passage and asked him to read the passage. This young man, impressed by Kimball’s kindness, continued to attend Sunday School.
After nearly a year of lessons, Kimball visited this young man at his place of employment, Holton Shoe Store, and during a conversation between the two in the store’s stockroom, the young man, DL Moody, was introduced to Jesus.
While this is a beautiful story of obedience by Kimball, it didn’t end there.
Actually that’s where the story begins. Moody was invited to share the gospel in England. There he met Frederick Brotherton (FB) Meyer (1847 – 1929) and Meyer played an important part in the beginnings of the Welsh revival, holding Keswick meetings in Wales.
Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God. J. Wilbur Chapman (1859 – 1918). became the evangelist who preached to thousands. One day, a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and thus, Billy Sunday was converted.
Billy Sunday (1862 – 1935) a professional baseball player quit the game and became part of Chapman’s team. Then, Chapman accepted the pastorate of a large church and Billy Sunday began his own evangelistic crusades.
Another young man was converted whose name was Mordecai Ham (1877 – 1961). Ham entered the ministry in 1901 and in 1936 began his long radio evangelistic career. He evangelized until shortly before his death in 1961. He was a scholarly, dignified gentleman who wasn’t above renting a hearse and parading it through the streets advertising his meetings.
On one trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, a sandy-haired, lanky young man, then in high school, vowed that he wouldn’t go hear him preach, but Billy Frank, did eventually go. He had heard that some students were going to try and interrupt Ham’s meetings, Billy Frank decided to go see what would happen. Billy Frank didn’t see any shenanigans, but was intrigued by what he heard. Returning the following night, he responded to the invitation and began his relationship with Christ.
We know Billy Frank as Billy Graham (1918 – 2018), the evangelist who preached to more people than any other person who ever lived, including the Apostle Paul.
God instructed Moses to remove his sandals because he was sacred ground, and God turned the backroom of a shoe store into sacred ground as well. In each event, God looked for simple obedience. And look what he could do through the years with these humble and obedient lovers of God?
Maybe we make serving Jesus too difficult. All we need to do is listen, and do what’s next. Who knows, that may mean a trip to your favorite shoe store.
Do you feel like you don’t matter? Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.
Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.
Thoughts come spilling out here, typos and all.
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