Beautiful Feet: Who Me?
How beautiful are your feet? I suspect that most of you would say, “Not very beautiful!” Most of you wouldn’t consider your feet to be your finest attribute. I certainly don’t. Sure, you might sometimes paint your toenails, or get the occasional pedicure, but for the most part you probably see your feet as having more of a utilitarian function. They get you from point A to point B, but in the process they get smelly, sweaty, and calloused. Given this reality, it is especially interesting to me that the apostle Paul would say this in Romans 10:15 – “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” This is actually a quote of Isaiah 52:7, which viewed Israel in captivity, but then pictured a messenger coming with the good news that their exile was over and their restoration was at hand. That person was seen to have beautiful feet, because they were bringing good news.
The apostle Paul applied this verse in Romans 10 to those who share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. The gospel tells us that God has entered our world in the person of Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, paying the penalty for our sins, and then rose again in victory conquering sin and death. And when anyone hears the gospel and believes it, they are saved. In fact, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Given that reality, the apostle states the following:
“How, 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? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)”
In order for people to hear the gospel and believe it, someone needs to go and share it with them. And, when that someone is you, you can be said to have “beautiful” feet. Your feet may be calloused, dirty, and you might have an unsightly toe nail (like me!), but your feet are beautiful in God’s eyes if you use them to share the good news of Christ with others.
I can’t help but think of all the beautiful feet we have at Onward. Feet that teach the children and youth about God’s love. Feet that operate the A/V equipment to further the reach of the gospel. Feet that play songs of worship that proclaim the good news. Feet that clean and adorn the sanctuary from which the gospel is proclaimed. Feet that deliver a gift of love to someone in need. Feet that make a phone call or send a note of encouragement. Feet that welcome and greet. Feet that lead others in ministry. Feet that administer, organize, and plan, so that the body of Christ can be built up. Feet that contribute behind the scenes. Feet that bring a guest or family member to church. Feet that lift up in prayer the ministries and missionaries of the church. Feet that give faithfully so that the gospel can continue to be proclaimed. There’s lots of beautiful feet at Onward.
The reality is that everyone who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord is commissioned and sent out to be his witnesses. And so, if you as a believer make it your goal to spread the gospel with your time, talents, and treasure, then you too have beautiful feet.
