I take my shoes off when I preach, done that from almost the beginning. I remember what God commanded Moses when Moses’ curiosity sent him off to check out that “burning bush” in Exodus 3:5: “’Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’” [NIV]
I know there is nothing holy about the little log cabin we are in, nor about the ground around any pulpit. But there is holy ground in the Scriptures from which I’m preaching. Taking my shoes off reminds me to be faithful to God’s Word and that it is an awesome opportunity and fearsome responsibility to preach and teach others about God.
I also recognize that it is not only those times when I’m sharing God’s Word that I’m on “holy ground.” John reminded his readers in his first letter that [God] “abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” [1 John 3:24 NKJV]
Our very spiritual hearts are “holy ground” because God abides there. We not only need to remember that, we need to carefully heed the warning to not wear our “worldly shoes” into God’s presence.
Proverbs 4:23 tells us that “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” We can’t do that if we are tramping around out in the world and bringing all its dirt home with us. We can’t guard our heart if we take our spiritual eyes off the LORD and allow them to consider all manner of temptation and evil around us.
Our hearts are holy ground for the LORD abides there. Let’s consider that carefully in everything we do.
