A familiar saying states: “Before you judge another, walk a mile in his shoes.” Sources attribute this quote to Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans, who wrote in a prayer, “Great Spirit — Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.” The challenge is to try our best to understand what another is going through before making judgments.
There are some shoes, however, we would never dream of walking in – because they are too valuable! A recent news item reported that a pair of Birkenstock sandals once worn by Apple founder Steve Jobs sold at auction for $220,000. That set the record for the most expensive pair of sandals.
That doesn’t come close, however, to the most expensive shoes. A pair of Nike athletic shoes designed by music artist Drake is valued at $2 million; each sneaker is covered with 24-carat gold. (They also weigh 50 pounds each!) Another pair of Nikes sold at auction for $10 million because they were the ones thrown at President George W. Bush in December of 2008. Topping the list of most valuable shoes (in an article on ventured.com) are the Moon Star Shoes designed by Antonio Vietri. Made with solid gold, 30 carats of diamonds, and meteorite, this pair is valued at $19.9 million!
None of the shoes on the aforementioned list appeal to me. I choose instead a pair of 2,000-year-old sandals once worn in the regions of Palestine.
Not much is actually said in the New Testament about Jesus’ footwear. John the Baptist gave us this insight in John 1:27: “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” In verses 29,30 John identified this “He” as Jesus, whom he also called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”.
Do the sandals of Jesus still exist? There’s no evidence that they do, but the crucial idea is found in 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” To follow the steps of Jesus is my calling, meaning that I should do my best to imitate the example of the Son of God. Those steps lead to abundant life (John 10:10).
Jesus issued this call to follow Him: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26). We may not strap on sandals that Jesus wore, but we are to mark the path that He traveled through life and walk in that same way. That’s how to receive honor from the Father.
Are we traveling through life in the best path? Consider the admonition of Jeremiah 6:16: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.’” Where are those old paths? Look in Scripture and observe Jesus’ life. Follow in His steps, walk in His sandals. That will lead to rest for our souls.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall