Have you removed your shoes?

This morning, as I watered the garden, the Lord was talking to me about taking off my shoes.  Just like He told Moses and Joshua to take off their shoes, He has asked me to take off mine.  Like we learned yesterday in church, taking off our shoes is not only out of reverence to God but it also symbolizes us giving up our rights.  Many times, even when we are right about something, Jesus asks "will you give that up for a bigger purpose."  As we read in Ruth 4:1-7 the relative of Ruth who was the first in line to marry her gave up that right to Boaz and the confirmation of this action was that he removed his shoe in the sight of the elders.  The instruction from God for this tradition is found in Deut. 25:7-10.  When God asked Moses to remove His shoes it was because the place he was standing was holy.  It was holy because God was in that place.  Again, when God asked Joshua to remove his shoe because the place he stood was holy it was because that is where God was.  Out of humility and respect of the Holy God these two great men of faith did so.  However, when we think about it we need to examine why their shoes?  Why not another part of their clothing.
Shoes are worn for protection.  They put a barrier between our bodies and the ground we walk on.  What if this action not only symbolized their submission to the Almighty God, but also symbolized that they were removing anything that stood between the place they were and the place God was.  There was no longer the need to protect themselves, especially in the presence on the Almighty.  What if God asked us to remove our spiritual shoes?  What if He said, "there is no reason for you to wear any protection here."  Would we be willing to remove our shoes as a sign that we trust Him fully.  That we give up the right to protect ourselves that we might gain protection from Him.  Could we possibly trust Him this much?  You see when God asks us to step into a place barefooted before Him, He is asking us to remove all that stands between us and Him.  Every sin.  Every fear.  Every hurt that we try and hold Him responsible for.  Every opinion or idea that contradicts His nature and truth.  Are you willing to remove your shoes?