Muddy Shoes

Psalms 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

I had an opportunity to help with some friends of mine in laying sod in their new yard. The job was huge, but there was a lot of help and we got the job done pretty efficiently and fast. One of the obstacles was that the night before it had rained... a lot! So needless to say the soil was wet and clotting on our shoes.

As I was laying the sod alongside other workers, I begin to inquire about who they were. Some were from churches, others from Christian-based programs. One man begin to tell me his story of coming to Christ. He told me of his life of crime and prison before he came to Christ through this program. He then began to share of how he reunited with his parents, who also didn't know Christ. He said, "I didn't try to push it on them, I just tried to show them what happened to me." He said his parents now know Christ and attend worship also. All this was said through tears in his eyes.

Remember now that during all of this...the sun was beating down on an August day and my feet were sore because they now weighed much more than when I started. Step after step, the mud just kept on building on my shoes. But then it came! We finished! I was so ready to change my sweaty clothes and get those heavy shoes off. Finally I reached down and slipped them off. I'm not sure but I think my feet shouted for joy!

All they way home from working that day I couldn't help but think about this man that Christ saved. Did you know that my life was the same? Step after step in the sin of the world my life became so bogged down. I was so tired and defeated because sin ruled my life. Then Christ came and pulled me out of the miry clay of sin. He set my feet upon a rock, The Rock, Jesus Christ. Those old muddy shoes that me and my sod laying friend used to wear are now sitting at the foot of the cross.

Lord, thank you for the simple parables and illustrations that you show me everyday. You help me to see  and understand you so much better. I love you!