ARE YOUR FEET BEAUTIFUL OR UGLY?
Bringing hope instead of heck to people’s lives
The Bible tells us in Isaiah, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
On the other hand, if I’m un-wise enough to open up my newsfeed; all I get is bad, depressing news. What is worse, would be if I would pass that bad news along. Then I have “UGLY FEET!”
The Bible gives us plenty of inspiration not to lose hope or give up. There are many accounts of men and women who failed dramatically before and as they were working to get on track with God. This should give us comfort. Some of the Bible's greatest examples made big mistakes. This fact tells us that we cannot succeed with resolution and self-motivation alone. We need the awe inspiring, life transforming power and word of God. WE NEED TO HEAR AND TELL OTHERS, “OUR GOD REIGNS!”
You might think you have messed up your past life but it’s highly unlikely you will have made as many mistakes as the sins of our patriarchs. David had a man killed to cover up his adultery. Saul dedicated his life to the persecution and death of the Christians. Along with many others, they discovered that God loves second chances. Paul says in Romans 7:18 “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Paul knew that on his own strength, he was finished. But he tells us that he gains victory over his “body of death” through Jesus Christ. Paul discovered transformation, the real revolution of God. He realized his purpose and became “more than a conqueror.”
The Bible guides us to a joyful, healthy, peaceful life in the presence of God. With God's help, we can face trial, tribulation, and severe hardship with hope and our heads up. Just be careful with bad news! Spend more time in the world than the word of God and you can start to look just like the rest of the world. Although we’re called by God to be light, we can slip into worldly darkness.
The abundant life in Christ also includes where Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily. It includes blessings, but also finding meaning in a world as Rocky put it, “That is a mean and nasty place.” If you are a follower of the man from Galilee, you should speak differently, make a difference – and people who know you should see a difference.
Christians, with beautiful feet, are beacons of light in a world of darkness. That means they stand out because they seek to distribute blessings and gifts from a God Who owns the world and everything in it. If your Christian life isn't radically different than the best non-believer you know, then you want to keep seeking a deeper relationship with God. Focus on the Good News and keep up your transformation.
Transformation only begins with re-direction. Transformation is conversion to a journey that will take you the rest of your life to complete. It is not a journey of drudgery but rather a journey of adventure and joy, a chance to explore yourself, and a confidence that God is at your side. You have a destiny that can only come through excitedly and prayerfully searching for your redeemer Messiah – a Messiah who redeems us not only from sin but also from every aspect of a bad new-filled world, a Messiah who came with the Gospel, the Good News to set you free and give you abundant life. You can realize your purpose as long as you believe that what’s inside of you is more powerful than any circumstance outside of you!
God is good all the time to those who have been called according to His purposes. The turbulence, speed bumps, and steep hills that the world meant for bad, God meant for good to strengthen, shape, and mold you for the future. At times, the news may seem too bad and the good may seem like it’s taking too long to come. Yet, stay the course! Live life by the compass and not the clock. You’d rather be going the right way slow, then the wrong way fast. Good news is coming to those who live for God and a promise of a “glorious inheritance for those who believe!”
God loves you – and so do I,
Dr. Ben