Beautiful Feet

In Romans 12 we read that, when we present ourselves to God, the gift of myself is acceptable to him. Think with me, there is only one thing in the universe that God can not have unless I give it to him, myself, my worship, my love, my obedience, my thoughts even my obedient hands and feet. Oh, he could fashion a duplicate, without free will, that obeyed him like a Stepford wife. Why in the universe would he want to do that? Having a relationship which is forced or in which there was no possible other choice, is meaningless and even perverted. Why do you think that He put the tree in the garden and then told them not to eat from it? If I give him my obedient feet then He accepts them and they are truly beautiful. If I refuse to yield them, then He does not have them. If he forced “obedience” it would not be obedience.

Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15 and Nahum 1:15. (When God repeats himself 3 times He really wants us to retain the idea) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace:that brings good tidings, that publishes salvation’ that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigns!

I am to yield my body members slaves and tools for God to work through. Romans 6 But, can’t God do his work with or without my obedient feet? Ponder the verse in Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

God is looking for “beautiful feet” to carry the message to the lost, to stand in the gap. He is looking for “beautiful eyes” to see the needs”, “beautiful mouths” to share the truth. Faith comes by hearing and how shall they hear if no one tells them, and how shall they be told if no one’s feet take them, and how shall they go if no one sends them? Romans 10:14,15

First I need to give my “feet” to God day by day and moment by moment. I need to turn my will over to him and move my feet according to a growing picture of obedient feet following God’s purpose for them. Remember that both the coward and the hero are afraid but move their feet in different directions. “Lord, help me move my feet in the right direction even when I am afraid.”

Then I need to have my feet shod with the preparation of the good news that Jesus has paid for our sins and we are no longer his enemies. Then my feet can fend off the pollution of the world and carry the news that all we have to do is say the same as He about our sins, his finished work on the cross and ask for the forgiveness He is offering. Ephesians 6:15.

Finally, I need to have my “feet” washed regularly from the pollution of this world. John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

How can we do this for each other? We can share the struggles and ideas and temptations that we face with fellow believers who will empathize with the struggle but point us back to the Lord and his ways. I had a friend who was a wise counselor but wanted to earn a PHD in counseling in order to better help others. I counseled him to find an older man at church who loved the Lord and knew the Word. I strongly urged him to meet with this man at least weekly and during the week write down the counseling ideas that he was hearing and bounce them off the friend. After all, there is a way that seems right to a man but the end is death. He had to go to school full time and work full time and did not find time to follow my advice. He wound up with a brain full of good sounding worldly advice. It took years for God to straighten out the good sounding but worldly ideas he picked up, but he did eventually get back through interaction with brethren at church. I need to let brethren help to keep my feet washed so that the pollution does not invade my whole life

Jesus asked that I stay in the world but be kept from the evil of this world which so easily besets me. John 17:15 and Hebrews 12:1 To do this I need to remember the cloud of witnesses which surrounds me and cheers me on in the battle. Also, I need to let the Joy of Jesus give me, “happy feet”, I need to let my feet follow my brethren in unity. I need to see my feet as in the world, but set apart for God’s use. (Sanctified feet.)

Here, dear Lord, is the gift from me to you of my feet. Make them beautiful by using them to carry your message of love and forgiveness to the world.