Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 9:16, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
The Planet of the Apes movies may be some of Hollywood’s best examples of having the shoe on the other foot. Beyond the literal example where the simians were dressed in clothes and donned with shoes while the humans were barefoot and wore animal skins, the movies played out the scenario where the apes, gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees were the civilized ones of society while the humans were mute primitives who were hunted or enslaved. This role reversal served as a powerful metaphor to encourage the culture of the late 1960’s to examine its views of race relations and cultural stereotypes. On a much smaller scale, the movies can provide an impetus for one to consider their own situations in light of how things might be were conditions or positions quite different. As our human nature is easily inclined to ponder what we might do if we were suddenly in a position of power or authority that we currently do not have, we are far less likely to consider how things might be if we were removed from our position of status or privilege, regardless of the domain. Our general mindset is that even though we believe things should be better for us than they presently are, we deserve at least what we have, and certainly our condition shouldn’t be worse off than it is. In short, if the shoe is going on the other foot, it should be a better shoe on the correct foot.
But for Saul, his was the case where he was definitely going to go backwards, especially concerning his physical stature and the treatment of his body. On top of relinquishing the political and religious authorization to persecute and punish, Saul would now be constantly defending his position and suffering brutally at the hands of the persecutors and tormenters. And God promised that it would come and showed him what it would be like. Some of us are good with the shoe where it is, but how would you do if it were on the other foot? What would some discomfort do to your posture before God? What do you deserve, and how much of the cross are you willing to associate with?
As we seek Him today, don’t let the comfort of where you are get too comfortable.
Have a different Tuesday, and I will be with you again on Thursday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
