Thought for the Week-Steel Toes

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!

Well, I wasn't sure if this was going to make it out this week or not!  Boy, will I be glad when school starts next week!  I'm one of those people who really needs a schedule.  I like knowing what day it is, and when I need to be places.  It will be a bit different, though not having an office to show up at...that may throw me off a little.  Hopefully I'll adjust.  Speaking of offices, I want to talk to you today about steel-toed boots.  What do you know about steel-toed boots?  For starters, hard workin' folks wear steel toed-boots.  They're the ones that have a real need.  When a person is wearing these boots, you could probably drop a car on your toes, and still have all ten little piggies at the end of the day.  There's a new song out on the radio that talks about having "steel toes and a strong back".  Naturally I had to think about that.

See, in the song the man is applying for a job.  He's in a pretty bad way, and he needs a job.  He's basically saying he'll do whatever he needs to, just give him a chance.  Over here in this house, we know about that. We've got strong backs, and been known to accessorize with steel toes.  I would wager that in houses across America, the stories are very similar.  What about in the Bible?  Think we'll find any steel-toed boots in the Bible?

I've been thinking a lot about how I was going to phrase this for y'all this week.  Maybe that's why it took me til Friday to get this out to you!  I think I've figured it out.  There is something very close to steel-toed boots in the New Testament.  Interesting, don't you think?  I mean considering that sandals were the proffered foot wear in Biblical times.  Let me ask you something...how many people like what they do for a living?  And how many people get up every day and go to their job...and do their job because that's the way food is put on the table?  If that is true today, doesn't it stand to reason that the same may have been true in Biblical times as well?  I ask because, I'm thinking of the soldiers (not all, but some) who had the job of nailing Jesus to the cross.  Would that be a job you would want to have?  Granted the Roman soldiers were known far and wide for the brutality, but human to human, soul to soul...could you do it?  I just love the Bible.  Not one word is wasted in the pages of Scripture.  Therefore, if a word or a phrase is repeated you must pay close attention to it.  In three of the four Gospels we read a confession, an admission, an acknowledgement....call it what you will, from one of the soldiers guarding Jesus on the Cross.  Read with me:

"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!'" Matthew 27:54

"And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'"  Mark 15:39

"The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, 'Surely this was a righteous man.'" Luke 23:47

This centurion was not just a soldier, he was not a private or a mere foot soldier.  He was in charge of 100 other Roman soldiers.  He said this in front of his men.  Steel toes and a strong back.  This man had both.  He did the job that was asked of him, whether it was his hand that held the hammer or the nail or the ropes that stretched Jesus' arms tight across the wood; he was there.  He performed his duties to the best of his abilities.  Why?  It was his job.  Did he know what he was doing?  No, probably not.  They say hind-sight is 20/20.  Which means we can see so much more clearly when we look back on the things we've done.  This centurion, put on his steel toes and set his strong back for the day's work ahead of him that day at Calgary. 

What about you?  What shape are your steel-toed boots?  Are they sleek and shiny and high-heeled?  Maybe, soft and flat and brown leathered-loafers?  Is your back strong and steady?  Or do you feel like one more day will be the one that breaks it?  Today ask God to be with you today as you set your back for the task of carrying one more day's load.  And when/if that load is simply too much to bear, drop it at the foot of the Cross.  Let Jesus take it from here.  He's wearing steel-toed boots, too.  I promise you, His back won't break under the strain and weight of your burdens.  Have a blessed weekend!