“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” (Isaiah 52:7)
Who would have thought that the toes that Christopher found sticking up in the air at the end of his chair 33 years ago would be featured at his wedding. Christopher chose to display his toes at this most auspicious occasion along with the toes of all his groomsmen by insisting that they all wear sandals with their new 3-piece suits. It was a California wedding through and through right down to the In-N-Out Burgers served at the reception and the pictures on the beach. But it was the toes that made me smile. One picture is a shot down at the feet of all the men standing in a circle – the fun part being: whose toes belong to whom?
In light of this, it’s not inappropriate that the prophet Isaiah proclaimed the beauty of feet. Now that’s something. We don’t naturally think of feet as being beautiful. I personally think feet are rather ugly, and the way they spend their whole life crammed inside of shoes, doesn’t give them much hope of getting any better. Not to mention the smell, and the dirt should we live in the time of Jesus when everyone wore sandals and walked on dusty roads. That’s why washing His disciples’ feet was more embarrassing for the disciples than for Jesus.
And yet Isaiah calls feet beautiful, and Paul quotes him in Romans 10:15. It must be important. To Isaiah and to Paul, those feet are beautiful because of what they carry. They carry a person who brings good news – good tidings – and who proclaims salvation and peace. We know this today as the gospel, in fact “gospel” means “good news.”
Never before have we needed more carriers of good news in the marketplace. We live in a time when Christians are known in the marketplace for bad news. They bring anger, hate and fear. Many have opted for morality and a conservative social agenda over the good news of gospel, and have joined the culture war instead of bringing the gospel of peace.
Check your feet. What message are you bringing?
We are in another election year, and believe me, it’s going to get ugly. It already is. And Christians are going to be jumping in and throwing mud like everyone else. Please do me and the gospel a favor: Don’t take part in it. Check the messages you give, and the emails you pass on for good tidings of peace and salvation.
Christopher hung his toes out there at his wedding. It may have been more prophetic than he realizes. Make your feet beautiful; be a bearer of good news, peace and salvation. People are dying to hear it and ready to believe.
John Fischer The Catch 
Thank you! I agree that the next few months are going to be a real opportunity to witness to how Jesus hoped that we would all live – not in fear, but remembering that God is large and in charge and that Jesus came to show us the way to love one another.
Yes, I get so tired of the bad image Christians give themselves by taking sides in politics and debates. There is nothing to debate anyway, simply God’s love as expressed through Jesus to proclaim.
If you (I) find yourself (myself) putting down another or their views, then you (I) can be sure that God is not in it; and once again you (I) have abandoned God for your (my) own way.
Amen! God does a much better job with these things than we do…
Big prayer request…
My daughter who argued with my ex and left home last year to live with a druggie boy friend, had a positive pregnancy test yesterday. Neither she nor her boy friend have finished high school, or have jobs, or have a regular place to live. Since they stay at different places, there have been other guys who have gotten my daughter drunk or stoned and then screwed her, so it’s unknown who the actual father is. And her boy friend has legal problems and may be going to jail soon.
And I have no ability to help them, so I guess that’s the way God wants it.
And yeah, I still need more work, too.
Interesting article. BWG I like the idea that In-N-Out catered the reception. One of my favorite places to eat when I visit California.
I am pleased your Son had a memorable wedding which it should be. Life begins anew and another generation will carry the banner for our Lord and savior. Congratulations.
I viewed the picture of the feet with great interest. Nice concept that the males wore sandals. I think that was a nice touch for a wedding. Typical California? I’m not so sure. Significant to the ceremony? Mmmm In the heart and mind of the groom yes and a very nice touch. I like it.
I do have a question about your comment:
“But it was the toes that made me smile. One picture is a shot down at the feet of all the men standing in a circle – the fun part being: whose toes belong to whom?”
Whose toes belong to whom? Who is wearing the toe nail polish?
Sorry for the confusion. That was not the picture I was talking about. I pulled that off the Internet because it was similar. Don’t have the wedding pictures back yet, but I will share them when I do.
If Christians are not supposed to talk about politics, it would also seem to be a logical farse to even bother to vote as well. If one were a Jehovah’s Witness, they would be advised not to vote. Is it wrong to consider the Watchtower and it’s followers members of a cult? I do understand that Jesus is to be our main focal point. When it comes to politics, some of us are saddened that our country is on a course directed downward. It is said that people should avoid talking about politics and religion. Swell? Talking about the weather, traffic and barking dogs seems like a rather dull pattern of interaction between people. Not much else left to talk about it seems. There are a few of us who use politics as a feed-in to seeing if the other person has an interest in matters of a Biblical consideration that get to the core topic of salvation.
I never said not to talk about politics. We all have a responsibility to learn about the issues and vote knowledgeably. I said not to join in the mud slinging, anger, hate and fear that often goes along with certain political agendas.