Beautiful Feet

Not much time to blog this week. I am still getting used to the routine of going to class. Two preaching classes this semester. Here's a sermon I am giving today. Let me know what you think.

Romans 10:14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

Beautiful Feet
Topic Sentence: What makes our feet beautiful? When we are using them to help spread the gospel.

Did you read it in the newspaper recently? Ugly feet may affect your Valentine’s day.
January 25, 2005
Valentine's Day Tip: Rough, Ugly Feet Turn Cupid Off
It's difficult for most of us to feel romantic when we see yellow, discolored toenails or feel the scratch of rough, cracked heels. Without a doubt, when a person's feet are unattractive to the opposite sex, it can dramatically affect their self-confidence.

Sounds bad. Let’s stay away from that – we want beautiful feet. So, do we go to the pedicure parlor to have beautiful feet? Or is Paul saying something different here? ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ -- Beautiful feet come from spreading the good news of Christ.

Now we know he is quoting Isaiah because Dr. T assigned both texts and we students always read all our assignments in seminary. The context in the Isaiah passage relates to the messengers who will run far and long and who deliver the news to Israel that their days of bondage in Babylon are over—their captivity to Babylon is over and their days of darkness are over! Is that not also the Gospel of Christ? That our days of bondage are over? That now we dwell in the Light?

As seminary students, soon we will be called to carry the Gospel and preach it so that our congregations will hear the good news, that they will know Christ, believe on him and call on the name of Jesus as Lord and deliverer. As seminary students, we stand here together, our feet planted firm on the Rock of Christ —here to learn how proclaim the good news.

But when I think of feet, I cannot help but think of other images: Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, Mary anointing the feet of Jesus. The bruised and bloodied feet of the runner climbing the mountain to proclaim the word of God, the bruised and bloodied feet of Christ on the Cross. Our feet too are washed clean of sin, and as priests of God, as preachers, pastors, our feet are anointed to spread the Word of God. But they also will be bloodied feet, bruised feet as we spread the Gospel. Maybe that is what makes beautiful feet. Our feet going where they are sent, regardless of the rough stones and rocky way -- following the feet of Christ. Do you have beautiful feet?