Tough Feet

Feet.

When I say it, everyone has a thought that springs to the forefront of their mind. We think of words such as smelly, hairy, walk, run, big, small, and so on. It is a body part and like all body parts, it may need some maintenance. 

For most people, feet are used so often that their importance to their own owner is diminished. As you read, please allow me to reinstate them as a crucial implement for the journey that is often referred to as, “The Christian Walk”. 

I once read a quote from the great philosopher Dr. Seuss that states, 

“Left foot. Right foot. Feet. Feet. Feet. How many, many feet do you meet”.

When looking at this quote in relation to the Body of Christ, I can make a few connections. The first connection being just how important feet are. Paul had a marvelous understanding of feet and their Biblical position. In Romans 10:13-15 Pauls exclaims,

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

He begins his exclamation by stating that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. The Gospel is a very inclusive message. It has authority and has been endowed with the power to change lives. This power is in the name and finished work of Jesus Christ.  

Paul then asks a skillful barrage of questions that ultimately is concluded with the question,

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” 

Paul affirms the power of the Gospel and what it can do; however, this begs the practical question of getting this power into the lost, broken, and powerless souls of unbelievers. 

The answer is to, quite literally, put feet to the Gospel. 

This often seems to be a looming task, but when placed into the perspective that you are not alone in this duty, we begin to understand why exactly the Gospel is referred to as the “Gospel of Peace”.

As Christians, our feet carry us to where our words can glorify the work of God in our lives. As the Christian church, this is one of the reasons that unity is so important. Unified, all of these feet moving in one accord and in sound mind, will make a significant impact.

Unified, our joy is blanketed by the providence of God. 

Another note that I would like to add is in regard to the preparation for our sending. God graciously equips us through the Gospel. 

In Ephesians 6:15, Paul informs his reader that our feet are shod (equid with shoes) with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. 

When Paul uses the term, “shod”, he is not referring to the shoes that cover our feet. He is referring to the shodding of horses feet, which supports and increases the durability of horses while they work. 

This is the kind of spiritual shoe that we need because the spreading of the Gospel will take us to all kinds of rocky places and terrains. We will find ourselves in valleys, mountains tops, hurt, and healing. In the midst of all the places that our feet take us for the furthering of the Gospel, we can rest assured that we can have joy and peace through it all. 

In the power of the Gospel we can relate to the words of psalmist David when he proclaims, “[You] Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). 

In the power of the Gospel we can also relate to the words of the prophet Habakkuk when he proclaims, “The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places…” (Habakkuk 3:19). 

In the power of the Gospel we can relate to the words of Dr. Seuss and find out just how many more feet we can meet.

When in Christ, he gives us tough feet.