Even though there are around 1,000 inmates housed at this prison, new arrivals are easy to spot. I know most of the faces here, so an unfamiliar one stands out. Then, of course, there are the shoes. Everyone here is issued black work boots, and some people also have black, white or grey sneakers. But new people are always wearing blue canvas slip-on shoes until they pick up their boots. Those shoes are a sure sign marking out a person as a new arrival.
Did you know that as Christians we are also marked out? We have some very distinguishing features which show us to be followers of Jesus. Most notably, we have been given God’s grace. It is the sweet and undeserved grace of God which causes us to be humble. It moves us to show kindness to a new person and to offer to show him or her the way to go.
At any point in life, you may find yourself in new territory and feeling overwhelmed or confused. But God promises His grace and direction when we seek His help. He says, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).