When we think of a beautiful part of someone, we often think of their hair, their eyes, their smile. Those are frequently the first thing that pops into someone’s mind. It’s not that often that we include feet on the list of beautiful parts of someone. They can be dirty. They can be smelly. They can get calluses, bunions, and the toenails can cause problems. And when they hurt or are achy, the whole body is miserable. No, the feet are not generally considered one’s best point. However, in our Scripture verse today we read that there are times when God calls some people’s feet beautiful! Let’s take a look at when that might be.
Our Scripture verse this Christmas week comes from the prophet Isaiah. Here he speaks about beautiful feet. When does God think our feet are beautiful? Is it after we have had a visit to a spa and received some pampering, including treatment for the feet, and a nice, fresh coat of toenail polish? No, that is not it. As we look at this Scripture passage we see that it has to do with what we do with our feet. The activity that we put our feet to which brings praise from God has nothing to do with sports and kicking that all-important goal. It certainly isn’t if we use our feet to kick and hurt someone, or some poor, helpless animal. There are times when God says that He hates what we do with our feet, such as when we use them in running to do evil (Proverbs 6:18). The activity that God says will make our feet beautiful is when we use them to bring His Good News to others.
We all like to hear good news. Whether the good news comes via an email, an instant message, a text, or a good old-fashioned letter, it is always welcomed. People have commented that it would be so much more pleasant if the evening news on TV or from internet news sources would try to balance their reporting by putting in more positive news content, instead of just all the negative, bad news stories. God has some good news for mankind, and He would like to get it out for them to hear. We find it written in His Word, the Bible. However, not everyone reads the Bible, or attends church to hear His message. They aren’t hearing God’s good news. All they are hearing is the world’s negative news, and Satan’s deadly message. God needs messengers to bring His news to the people.
What is God’s good news? What is the message that He wants proclaimed? As we read this Scripture we see that it is a message of salvation, a message of peace. A message that shows that God reigns and is in control of this world. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been at enmity with God. There has been no peace between man and God. They have been following the path of Satan, and that is the cause of all the sin and evil in this world. However, God has made a way for there to be peace between Him and mankind, and that is through salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the death of Jesus upon the Cross of Calvary, sin and Satan have been defeated, and when we trust Him as our Savior, we can have peace with God.
That is the glad tidings of good things that God wants us to bring to others. When we proclaim the message of salvation, when we tell others that they can have peace, knowing that God reigns and is in control, and that they no longer have to fear, we have beautiful feet. We are using our feet for something good, and not in being swift in running to do evil.
The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:14-15. Here Paul asks his readers several rhetorical questions. How can people call upon the Lord if they don’t believe in Him? How can they believe if they haven’t been told about Him? How will they hear about the Lord if there is no preacher? Someone has to bring to others the message of Jesus, and salvation in His Name. Those people who do are counted beautiful and blessed by God.
In another one of Paul’s epistles, he speaks about the armor of God that believers should be putting on each day in our battle against evil and Satan. He speaks of our feet being prepared to bring the Gospel of peace to others (Ephesians 6:15). This is obviously an important task that all Christians should be ready to do.
God says that the feet of those who bring His good news are beautiful. The word “gospel” means “good news”. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to share God’s Gospel, His Good News with others, His message of redemption, salvation, love, and peace.
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