Footprints in the Snow

An unsullied expanse of snow is a beautiful sight. To preserve the recent pristine white as long as possible, I tried to walk along the edges of the sidewalk. The stretch of snow in front of my house made it, intact, nearly to the end of the cold. 

The last morning, I walked out the front door, headed to the barn. I took my usual edge-of-the-sidewalk route but, after a few steps, noticed something unexpected. Large footsteps marched in a row, right through the center of the snow. They were a male's prints, and considerably larger than mine. 

What in the world? I thought. After another moment, I realized the source of the snow disturbance. The UPS man had boldly walked straight up the path to the door. Every step had left a clear impression in the snow.

As I stared at the evidence he'd left behind, as well as my own footprints in the snow, I realized an important truth. Where we walk, and how, are more important than we realize. Every step we make leaves an imprint, though not often visible to us.

Jesus' instructions to the disciples rang in my heart. "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (Mark 1:17 nasb) If we choose to follow Him, we, too, must walk in His steps, both where and how He walked. How? It was because of God's great love for us that Jesus came, and it that same love for which He persevered all the way to the cross. If we are to walk as He walked, then, we must walk in love - for God and for others.

In eternity, we'll see the impact our steps have made. Unfortunately, not all of mine will have left a positive impact. I can't change my wrong steps, but I can make better choices for the future. 

Today, let's ask God to give us a glimpse of our own footprint. Do my steps draw me closer to Him? Does every step lead someone else closer to Christ, as well? If not, pray that God will direct our paths in such a way that He will be glorified and honored by our life's journey, all the way until He leads us home.

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 nasb

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: The Growing Your Faith Retreat and How You Can Be a Part

Dirty Snow

Much to my surprise, the snow had fallen and it was really deep.   Maybe not ten inches, as predicted, but it was still pretty, and deeper than I’d seen in years.  Sam Wiley, our neighbor, had come to check on us and stoke the fire.  

As he walked up the sidewalk, obscured now by snow, his boots left a few spots of red mud behind.  The yard was blanketed with snowy white, but the tiny mud spots stood out in stark contrast.  It marred the beauty somehow, and, as I made my way out the front, I wondered if that’s what sin looks like to Jesus.  His blood washes us white as snow, but we mar it with the dirt of sin.  Even a little bit spoils the purity, makes it less than it was.  Little bits like “just a little” unkind thought, “just a little” disobedience, “just a little” compromise. “Just a little” still looks bad on the blanket of white.  

Take a few minutes today to look at your heart.  How white does it look to Jesus?  His blood was shed so it could be (and stay) white as snow.

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness... Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”  

Psalm 51:1,2,7