Beautiful Feet
Please pray with me:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.”
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
I was 11 years old. My brothers and I had watched it snow since before dinnertime. The wind picked up around bedtime and we went to bed listening to the wind and praying for more snow – for it was a Tuesday and we wanted a snow day!
I awoke at 6:00 AM as I heard Dad and Mom in the kitchen – their muffled talk gave no clue as to the hopes for a snow day. I heard the radio and tried to catch some of the words, but they, too, were muffled beyond recognition.
I lay in bed, wide-awake, waiting for 7:00 wake-up. I looked out into the dark and thought I saw piles of white – but dared not build up any hopes. I pulled up the covers and prayed.
Soon I heard Mom’s feet coming down the hallway – her slippers slapping against the wooden floor. I closed my eyes and tried to be fast asleep as I heard the bedroom door open –
“You don’t have to get up – it’s a SNOW DAY!”
How beautiful were her feet!
I was 40 years old and lying n the hospital bed. It was early morning and the floor was quite. I lay in bed with tubes going down my nose into my stomach. It was my fifth night there and I was under doctor’s orders – nothing by mouth – not even a glass of water. I was parched, my throat was dry – I rehearsed the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus and could feel the Rich Man’s pain.
I heard the taps of her heels as she walked down the empty hallway – soon she was in my room – smiling. She asked me how I was – I tried to answer, but my throat was parched – I could only croak out, “I’m Thirsty.”
She left my bedside and I followed the sound of her footsteps down the hall, only to return quickly. She lifted my head and held a tall, cool glass of water next to my lips! I drank – that water tasted better than anything I have ever tasted before or since that night.
How beautiful were her feet!
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Yes, my Mom and that wonderful nurse had beautiful feet! They brought me good news – there is nothing better than a snow day for an 11 year-old school boy – nor is there better news than a tall glass of cool water to a 40 year old who hasn’t had a drink of anything in five days! There feet brought me good news.
But their good news didn’t last very long –
The roads were plowed and we had school the following day – with extra work to catch up on what we missed
The nurse was reassigned because she violated doctor’s orders by giving me a drink and I had to spend an extra day in the hospital to balance my system
Their good news was fleeting.
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Paul is talking about The Good News – not a snow day – not physical comfort – but eternal life in Christ. This Good News lasts forever! This Good News gives eternal life! This Good News goes beyond anything we can dream of in this world!
Ah, but there is the rub – how can we hear the Good News when we are surrounded by so much not-so-good news?
Retirement incomes have been wiped out by falling stocks and bankrupt businesses
Houses reposed
Jobs lost
Family farms sold outside of the family
Spouses taken away through illness
Children’s innocence stripped by predators
Children lost to addiction
Media attacking Christians
My feet hurt – how can I even begin to bring good news in such a time as this? What would I even say?
Isaiah offers some insight:
Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
What can we proclaim?
Comfort to those who mourn, praise instead of despair!
God is not absent – God is not vengeful – God does not cause pain and suffering – God does not wish anyone to be lost
God wants us to proclaim His Good News – His words of eternal comfort – His words of Salvation – His words of Peace – His words of Joy – His words of assurance – His words of eternal life.
Oh, and we fail. We get so wrapped up in our own trials and troubles we walk away from God – we get angry with Him for causing our pain – our loss. We let opportunities for words of comfort slip by because we are hurting and don’t want to be bothered with anyone else – especially if they are suffering.
But God does not leave us – His love for us is so great that He will just walk by our side – He forgives – He loves – He continues to provide for us – in spite of our sin. It is in our sin that He reaches out to us – sending His Ultimate Word – Jesus – to suffer and pay our penalty – to rise from the dead so we may live eternally.
My perspective was changed after God called home my wife of 35 years – I was so wrapped up in our life together – our house – our things – that I was devastated when he called her home. I needed a new perspective.
Christ changed my perspective – Christ changes our perspectives – our lives are not about things – we have plenty of things – our lives are about relationships – first with God and them with His people!
Once we change our perspective, we see many ways to be beautiful feet –
Encouraging notes to those who are in trials
Standing by a friend in time of loss
A meal sent to a neighbor who is out of work
An invitation to the sons of the single Moms to go hunting
A prayer spoken – aloud – for a waitress
A kind word of encouragement for the barber
An extra tip for the tattooed, pierced waiter
A Bible given to a homeless man – with $20 inside
A word of forgiveness to the one that hurt you
A bag of groceries to the family on strike
20 minutes of full attention discussion with your child
Non-judgmental giving gifts
An extra percentage added to the offering
God uses people to be His hands, His heart, his feet – proclaiming salvation – proclaiming the Good News – showing good news -
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
How beautiful are your feet?
Now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Amen.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.”
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
I was 11 years old. My brothers and I had watched it snow since before dinnertime. The wind picked up around bedtime and we went to bed listening to the wind and praying for more snow – for it was a Tuesday and we wanted a snow day!
I awoke at 6:00 AM as I heard Dad and Mom in the kitchen – their muffled talk gave no clue as to the hopes for a snow day. I heard the radio and tried to catch some of the words, but they, too, were muffled beyond recognition.
I lay in bed, wide-awake, waiting for 7:00 wake-up. I looked out into the dark and thought I saw piles of white – but dared not build up any hopes. I pulled up the covers and prayed.
Soon I heard Mom’s feet coming down the hallway – her slippers slapping against the wooden floor. I closed my eyes and tried to be fast asleep as I heard the bedroom door open –
“You don’t have to get up – it’s a SNOW DAY!”
How beautiful were her feet!
I was 40 years old and lying n the hospital bed. It was early morning and the floor was quite. I lay in bed with tubes going down my nose into my stomach. It was my fifth night there and I was under doctor’s orders – nothing by mouth – not even a glass of water. I was parched, my throat was dry – I rehearsed the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus and could feel the Rich Man’s pain.
I heard the taps of her heels as she walked down the empty hallway – soon she was in my room – smiling. She asked me how I was – I tried to answer, but my throat was parched – I could only croak out, “I’m Thirsty.”
She left my bedside and I followed the sound of her footsteps down the hall, only to return quickly. She lifted my head and held a tall, cool glass of water next to my lips! I drank – that water tasted better than anything I have ever tasted before or since that night.
How beautiful were her feet!
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Yes, my Mom and that wonderful nurse had beautiful feet! They brought me good news – there is nothing better than a snow day for an 11 year-old school boy – nor is there better news than a tall glass of cool water to a 40 year old who hasn’t had a drink of anything in five days! There feet brought me good news.
But their good news didn’t last very long –
The roads were plowed and we had school the following day – with extra work to catch up on what we missed
The nurse was reassigned because she violated doctor’s orders by giving me a drink and I had to spend an extra day in the hospital to balance my system
Their good news was fleeting.
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Paul is talking about The Good News – not a snow day – not physical comfort – but eternal life in Christ. This Good News lasts forever! This Good News gives eternal life! This Good News goes beyond anything we can dream of in this world!
Ah, but there is the rub – how can we hear the Good News when we are surrounded by so much not-so-good news?
Retirement incomes have been wiped out by falling stocks and bankrupt businesses
Houses reposed
Jobs lost
Family farms sold outside of the family
Spouses taken away through illness
Children’s innocence stripped by predators
Children lost to addiction
Media attacking Christians
My feet hurt – how can I even begin to bring good news in such a time as this? What would I even say?
Isaiah offers some insight:
Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
What can we proclaim?
Comfort to those who mourn, praise instead of despair!
God is not absent – God is not vengeful – God does not cause pain and suffering – God does not wish anyone to be lost
God wants us to proclaim His Good News – His words of eternal comfort – His words of Salvation – His words of Peace – His words of Joy – His words of assurance – His words of eternal life.
Oh, and we fail. We get so wrapped up in our own trials and troubles we walk away from God – we get angry with Him for causing our pain – our loss. We let opportunities for words of comfort slip by because we are hurting and don’t want to be bothered with anyone else – especially if they are suffering.
But God does not leave us – His love for us is so great that He will just walk by our side – He forgives – He loves – He continues to provide for us – in spite of our sin. It is in our sin that He reaches out to us – sending His Ultimate Word – Jesus – to suffer and pay our penalty – to rise from the dead so we may live eternally.
My perspective was changed after God called home my wife of 35 years – I was so wrapped up in our life together – our house – our things – that I was devastated when he called her home. I needed a new perspective.
Christ changed my perspective – Christ changes our perspectives – our lives are not about things – we have plenty of things – our lives are about relationships – first with God and them with His people!
Once we change our perspective, we see many ways to be beautiful feet –
Encouraging notes to those who are in trials
Standing by a friend in time of loss
A meal sent to a neighbor who is out of work
An invitation to the sons of the single Moms to go hunting
A prayer spoken – aloud – for a waitress
A kind word of encouragement for the barber
An extra tip for the tattooed, pierced waiter
A Bible given to a homeless man – with $20 inside
A word of forgiveness to the one that hurt you
A bag of groceries to the family on strike
20 minutes of full attention discussion with your child
Non-judgmental giving gifts
An extra percentage added to the offering
God uses people to be His hands, His heart, his feet – proclaiming salvation – proclaiming the Good News – showing good news -
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
How beautiful are your feet?
Now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Amen.
