I LIKE GOD’S PROMISES….


Spiritual Blog - Promises

Psalm 50:15 – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” NASU

There are things I like and things I do not like in life.  This Psalm depicts something that I like very much and I depend upon entirely and that is the Promises of God.  I like it when God’s gives us permission to do something and affirms it with a promise and a prophetic declaration.

Consider what is said here:

  1. The Invitation.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble.   God is telling us that when difficulties arise and we are facing something that is larger than us we have His permission to appeal to Him.  The New Testament tells us in Hebrews 4:14-16 –“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” NASU

That is nothing short of phenomenal!  We have a High Priest, Jesus who has been touched by the things that we face and knows our very weaknesses.  He is one that has faced the temptations that we face and did so WITHOUT SIN.  He overcame and invites us to enter the Throne Room of Heaven with confidence and even boldness knowing that we will receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.  How can you beat that promise and invitation?

  1. The Promise.

I shall rescue you!  Wow!  We all face problems and difficulties in life and in those times we have a standing invitation from the Lord to “Call upon Him” with the promise that HE WILL COME TO MY AIDE!  The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.” NASU

 He not only promises to HELP but He is a PRESENT HELP a RIGHT NOW HELP!  It’s not a sometime down the road promise, it is – “You call and I WILL.”  How do you beat that?

  1. The Prophetic.

You will Honor Me!  So both with my testimony in words but in my life demonstrating His help, deliverance, comfort, power, and provision I HONOR HIM!  Others can look at what God is doing in my life and know that there is a God and that God is a Living God and a Present God.  That is a powerful tool for Evangelism.  Living a life of reception of the Promises of God is like honey drawing flies.  It has an appeal that nothing else can have.

YES, I like God’s Promises!  I hope you do to and I hope that you accept His invitation to Call upon Him and know that He will never fail and that the end result is Honor will be brought to Him through us!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

WITH WINGS OF EAGLES…..


Spiritual Blog - Eagles wings

Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”  NKJV

 

Thank God that God NEVER GETS TIRED although sometimes I wonder if He grows weary with us due to our inaction, unbelief, and resistance to His promises and plans.  He is the ALL WISE creator of the universe and infuses His power into our lives when we are weak and need His strength.  He comes to us when we are faint and on the verge of collapsing under the load and enables us to have renewed strength for the struggle, the journey, and battle.

Here Isaiah gives us something that sometimes in our “Microwave World” and “Instant Everything” lifestyles we miss or find it difficult to accept.  He tells us that those that WAIT on the LORD will RENEW their strength.  The result of that is given in the word picture that the prophet uses.  We will mount up with wings like eagles.  Eagles can soar high above everything and see with precision minute things on the surface below while soaring so high that they are almost invisible to the naked eye.  We will also run and not grow weary.  All of us who have ever had to run know that this is humanly impossible and therefore it is a clear indication that this strength and stamina will come from DIVINE SOURCES.  Not only will we run and not grow weary but in our WALK we will not faint, give up, or give in.  WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO VICTORIOUS LIVING!

The key to everything in this is WAITING ON THE LORD!  Not only is timing everything but the development of character and the learning that takes place in the time of WAITING ON THE LORD is indispensable for a victorious spiritual walk.  If there was one thing that I could teach all new believers it would be the secret and art of WAITING ON THE LORD.  If I could convince people of the value and need of this I would have succeeded in enabling them to live above the circumstances, obstacles, and trials of life in a rarified atmosphere that is known only to the angelic hosts.

Therefore, instead of being impatient and in a hurry learn and ask God to help you LEARN TO WAIT on the LORD!  As you do you will find that you not only accomplish more but you do so without the stress and pressure that life in human strength brings.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

GOD’S WAY NOT MAN’S WAY…..


Spiritual Blog - Two Ways

James 1:19-20 – “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  NKJV

            A number of years ago I had a member of the congregation that I was leading tell me regarding some incident that has just taken place in his life, “I don’t get mad I get even.”  I asked if he believed that was God’s way and his reply was, “I don’t know but it’s my way.”  Among other passages of scripture that I called to his attention was this one from James.  He was unflinching in his resolve to exact a pound of flesh from the person that had caused him a wound and nothing I could say changed his mind.  I prayed for that man over this issue until the day of his death and so far as I know he never altered that view.

     James warns or encourages us depending on how you view it how we should interact with other people.  He tells us that we should be SWIFT TO HEAR.  That would be beautiful if it were not so contrary to our natural human mindset that many find it almost impossible.  Most are either anxiously framing their response to what is being said without really listening or they are so absorbed with what the points they want to make that they do not hear anyone or anything else.  He also said we are to be SLOW TO SPEAK.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had someone tell me, “Well, I just say what is on my mind and let the chips fall where they may.”  That may sound good but is it really the heart and mind of God.  Sometimes SILENCE is the right response and the Bible makes it crystal clear that “a soft answer turns away wrath.”  Usually, that statement (speaking the mind) is made by a person who justifies saying whatever they want to say as though it were a pious thing when it is laden with self and selfishness.  It does not consider the other brother or sister or even the situation it only gives a release for the individual to SPEAK THEIR MIND.

   James continues and tells us that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  If we speak in anger the chances are we will say things that we will later wish we could take back but you cannot retrieve words.  Once they are released into the atmosphere they are there forever and sadly, we will hear them played back one day when we stand before God.  The only solution is to bring them under the Blood of Jesus and washed away and that requires repentance.  No wonder the Bible tells us to “not let the sun go down on our anger.”  If you allow it to fester in your heart, it will permeate your thought processes and become part of your reasoning and interaction with others and eventually will produce a poison that will damage you and others around you.  It will cost you relationships, peace of mind, and possibly even the fulfillment of the purposes of God for your life.

     If we learn to LISTEN and carefully weigh our words and diffuse anger we will see God’s Righteousness shine forth into the situation and what God can do in an instant we could never accomplish in two lifetimes.  So, I encourage everyone to become HEARERS and not just SPEAKERS or DOERS. 

       May God bless you and be with you as you go through your day!

1 CommentLeave a comment

GOD SEES IN US WHAT WE CANNOT SEE…


Spiritual Blog - Valor

Judges 6:11-18 – “Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” 13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The LORD looked at him and said, ” Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15 He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” 16 But the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.” 17 So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me. 18 “Please do not depart from here, until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.”  NASU

 

        It is sometimes amusing but comforting to realize that God does not see as man sees.  He is not limited to what is presently visible or a current reality in the natural.  God sees the end from the beginning and we are limited to seeing the beginning from the end.  We may believe there is potential, but God not only believes the potential but sees it as a finished product, IF…  If what?  If we will walk in obedience and dare to dream and press toward the prize of the high calling.

      In this account which is a most powerful revelation of the truth that “God sees in us what we cannot see in ourselves.”  I have known some who thought they were a god or God’s gift to the world, but my focus is the masses who do not view themselves that way.  I can only imagine how Gideon felt when the angel of the LORD came to him and called him a ‘valiant warrior.’  We don’t have to wonder because the account gives the mental attitude of Gideon.  Gideon did not simply shrink back in a sense of insufficiency, he questioned God.  That can be a dangerous condition but sometimes, it seems that God welcomes our questions.  Why?  Because it gives him the opportunity to demonstrate His power, person, purpose, and love.  It allows Him to demonstrate the truth that what He has placed in us can produce incredible results in this life.

       Gideon asked, “if the LORD is with us THEN WHY???”  Why what?  Why are we in such deep turmoil nationally?  Why is there such calamity in our lives?  Why is there such unrest?  Why are the enemies enjoying such apparent success?  WHY?  He also asked, “if the LORD is with us THEN WHERE???”  Where what?  Where are all the miracles we’ve heard about in our history?  If the LORD brought us out to freedom from bondage, why has he apparently abandoned us?  I love the next verse.  It says, ‘The LORD looked at him…’  It did not say the angel of the LORD, it said THE LORD.  The LORD revealed what He saw in Gideon, which was something Gideon could not see in himself.  I have no doubt Gideon longed for Israel’s deliverance and for someone to champion the cause of Freedom for the people, but never saw himself as that vessel.  The LORD said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel…”  WOW!  Hey, Gideon, ITS IN YOU!  God has made you a conqueror, a valiant warrior, and a victory.  This is your assignment.  I AM WITH YOU!   Hallelujah!  That’s enough!

     Gideon, as did Moses protested that he was insignificant and that’s what made him a candidate for God’s demonstration of incredible exploits through him.  Had he been full of himself and seen himself as larger than life, he would not have been usable for the King of Kings.  Had he not been humble and little in his own sight, he would have disobeyed when the LORD began sending home his warriors and left him with 300 men to face an entire army.  But, God saw in him a heart that was pliable, teachable, and humble.  That’s what God saw in David calling him a man after God’s own heart.  It was not that either of them was sinless or perfect, but they were obedient and recognized God as God.

      God sees in you far more than you see in yourself and as Jeremiah declared, God knows the plans He has for you and it is far greater than you can imagine.  God knows His purpose and assignment for your life and it is not limited to the natural or immediate it is only limited by your willingness to walk in obedience.  I am not suggesting that each of us will become national leaders or deliverers.  Some of us may simply be those who pour water on the hands of those who are, but each assignment is vital and what God sees in you is far more than you see in yourself.  NEVER, and I plead NEVER limit your vision to what you think you can do.  Learn to listen to the voice of the Spirit of God and the Word of God.  God says that we are more than conquerors through Jesus.  All things are possible to those who believe.  Obedience is far better than sacrifice and if we are willing and obedient we will enjoy the fruit of His victory!

   God bless you as you open your hearts to His Possibilities in your life!  

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE SCHISMS AND DIVISIONS….


Spiritual Blog - Church

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 – “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.”  NASU

         Most of the time I do not have a significant problem with people following different elements within the Body of Christ as their primary worship center or foundation of faith and practice!  That being said, sometimes I wonder how the heart of God is grieved when we separate, alienate, and seek to annihilate others from differing denominations over schisms and points of faith because we believe that we and we alone are right and they are not only wrong but heretical in their beliefs.

           I do not expect everyone to believe exactly what I believe but I do ask that we seek to believe what the Bible teaches and allow the Word of God to be the true and final interpreter of God’s Tenets and Truths.  Paul exhorted the Church in Corinth along these lines urging them to settle or move away from divisions and schisms which were not only points of disagreement but points of separation doing damage to the efforts of the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ.  He went through his list of people identifying with a particular personality, as their argument and basis for their rightness.  That is no different than the hordes of people who not just proudly but divisively declare, “I’m this or that” regarding a particular denomination or non-denominational denomination.

      A number of years ago the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “You are too exclusive and not open to some outside your group or groups and I want to use them to speak to you.”  I attended some conferences and meetings where men and women were speaking things that in the past I had severely criticized as being in gross error.  The Holy Spirit instructed me to LISTEN and that in doing so I would find more to applaud than to criticize.  One of the main speakers preached a message that so stirred my heart I developed several series from his message because God had used him to speak a truth to my heart that in a very real way changed my outlook on many things.  The church he was leading and a part of were putting the principles of the gospel in practice and while I still do not agree with all he taught I will allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me through whatever means He chooses.

    I realize that some will say that I am compromising my faith and I hope that is incorrect.  I do not excuse or wink at sin nor will I sit silently when I hear what I believe to be heresy taught, at least not silent with those whom I have any influence or responsibility.  I will separate the message from the messenger and identify what I believe the Bible says while refusing to focus on the personality.  If that is compromise then I guess I am guilty but in my desire to do what the Spirit of God instructed me I will follow this practice and ask you to disagree disagreeably if you choose.  I ascribe to the idea, “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”  There are some things that are foundational such as the virgin birth of Jesus, the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that He is the only access to the Father.  The Blood of Jesus is not just important but essential.  It is by Grace that we are saved.  It is by the blood of Jesus that we are cleansed.  There are essentials and in those we need unity.

     May God be with you as you go through your day!

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

I CAN, YOU CAN, WE CAN……


Spiritual Blog - All Things

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  NKJV

     I desire to be contextual in the use of scripture and find it difficult when people fail to acknowledge or consider what is before and after a particular passage or even the overall teaching of scripture on the matter.  I have pulled a single verse out of a passage to say something that is tugging at my heart today.

            Paul was addressing the Philippian Christians with regard to the difficult times he had had and their over the top support for him.  He gave them a little insight into his basic God-Inspired philosophy of life, “Being Content” in whatever state he was in at the time.  He knew what it was to have plenty and he knew what it was to be in want.  He knew what it was to have a surplus and he knew what it was to be hungry and not know where his next meal was coming from in the natural.  He knew what it was to be free and he knew what it was to be imprisoned and yet his undergirding foundation was HIS CONFIDENCE IN GOD!  That was what he wanted to pass on to the Philippian Church and to all who would read and hear what he had to say thus we get verse thirteen.

          “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

        This is a foundational truth that if we could all wrap our hearts, minds, and faith around we would NEVER find an obstacle that became bigger than life to us.  We would walk into every battle with a confidence that the outcome had already been decided and fight with an assurance of victory.  It would not be a matter of overconfidence or self-confidence but God-confidence.  It would be a complete dependence on THE WORD and PROMISES OF GOD.  It is one thing to “HOPE” for something and quite another to “KNOW” something.  We see the beginning from the end but God sees the end from the beginning.  That is an attribute that we humans do not possess except through the eyes of the Spirit of God and through faith!

       The overriding message of the Bible and especially the New Testament is that WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS through Jesus!  It is that WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  It is that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE to those that believe.  So, as Paul speaks these words they leaped off the page at me on this day and my heart cried out, “Oh God make it so in my life and in the lives of all who read what I write today.”  I speak to those who are struggling with events of life that have become burdens to bear!  I speak to those who have just received some devastating news that is more than your heart is prepared to hear.  I speak to those who have been betrayed by a trusted friend, companion, business partner, or confidant.  I speak to EVERY PERSON reading and say – “You can do this in Jesus and through Jesus.”  I don’t know if the outcome or the ultimate victory will be on this earth or as you stand before God but I know that ultimately YOU WIN in Jesus!

       So no matter what you are facing today, no matter what news has come or will come know that GOD KNOWS, CARES, and IS BIGGER THAN ALL YOUR PROBLEMS and WHEN JESUS SAYS ITS ENOUGH IT’LL BE ENOUGH!

      May God be with you as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

DON’T GROW FAINT HEARTED IN DOING GOOD….


Spiritual Blog - Quit

Galatians 6:9-10 – “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  NKJV

             We have all known people who just seem to always be doing good things for other people.  It was or is their heart and no matter the recognition or the reward they did it.  Then we have known those who do good things if the recognition or reward is there and as long as the accolades roll in they continue their efforts and actions.  I’ve known parents, spouses, and even workers and bosses express their weariness at doing good things for others only to have it go unappreciated and frequently I have seen them cease their actions and some even fallen into bitterness over it.

            If what you are doing is based on the immediate gratification of recognition then you are doing it for the wrong reason.  If you do what you do “in the name of the Lord” and “for the Lord” then your reward is beyond this life as well as in this life.  Paul encourages us to not give up and not grow weary in our efforts to do good things.  He assures us what we should all have settled deep in our hearts – GOD SEES ALL!  Just like farming, there is a time of preparing the soil, a time of planting the seed, a time of germination of the seed, a time of growing, and then finally a time of harvest.  We reap WHAT we so, we reap LATER than we sow, and we reap MORE than we sow.

            When we are doing good things for anyone, God sees it.  When we are doing good things for those of the household of faith according to Paul here this is especially noted.  Let me give you a Roy reason for this:  Those of the household of faith are already in the fight and are either sowers of the Gospel or potential sowers of the Gospel.  They are laborers in God’s harvest and when we do good things for them and help them continue their efforts we are furthering the cause of the Kingdom in a very tangible way. 

         Therefore, even if no one recognizes your efforts or even expresses appreciation for what you do – DON’T LOSE HEART!   God will never forget what you do or have done and even if it is in Heaven He will honor your labors, especially if they are labors of love out of a pure heart for the right reasons.

            As you go through this day and this year look, for opportunities to bless others and especially those of the Household of Faith!  May God be with you, guide you, guard you, protect you, and richly bless you in all things and at all times!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

JESUS DID A COMPLETE WORK…..


Spiritual Blog - Forgiven

Hebrews 10:11-18 – “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, 17 “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” NASU

            When I consider the Law in the Old Testament and read in the New Testament that it was a “Schoolmaster” to bring us to grace this passage leaps off the page for me.  When I consider the words of Jesus on the Cross, “IT IS FINISHED,” this passage takes new life for me.

            The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the priestly function under the Law and the daily sacrifices for sin that had to be conducted.  Then, he turns his attention to Jesus and His work on the Cross and tells us that it was a ONE TIME FOREVER offering and does not and will NEVER need anything more to make it satisfactory to satisfy “Divine Justice.”  Of course, we still have a part to play in personal repentance and acceptance by faith what He has done but HIS WORK IS COMPLETE!

            The writer reminds us that Jesus did His work then “Sat down at the right hand of God.”  He would then wait until enemies be made a footstool for His feet.”  Through Jesus’ ONE TIME OFFERING He opened the door to Eternal Salvation for us all.  Through that work comes, the NEW COVENANT, a covenant in which God writes it upon our hearts and places within us His laws, solidifying it in our minds.  He promises that because of the work of Jesus HE WILL REMEMBER OUR SIN NO MORE!

    We have TRUE FORGIVENESS not man’s kind but COMPLETE and TOTAL forgiveness.  What Jesus did on the Cross opens the door to God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness for ALL TIME!  It is up to us to receive it.  So if you have not I urge you today to run to the foot of the Cross and bow before Him confessing your sin and receiving His mercy!

            May God be with you as you go through this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE BLESSED MAN OR WOMAN……


Spiritual Blog - Blessed

Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” NIV

             What a powerful insight into a personal relationship with God we find here in the 1st Psalm.  We have insight, instruction, and information that is not only valuable as a teaching tool but as a living example.

THE BLESSED MAN:

  1. DOES NOT walk in the counsel of the wicked.
  2. DOES NOT stand in the way of sinners.
  3. DOES NOT sit in the seat of mockers.

     That would be enough if there was nothing else in the passage but there is more and worthy of our consideration.

THE BLESSED MAN:

  1. DOES make the Law of the Lord or the Word of the Lord his DELIGHT.
  2. DOES mediate on that Law or Word day and night.

     The result is that he becomes like a tree planted by a stream of refreshing life-giving water.  He produces fruit in his life in season and he does not succumb to the pressures of life or the heat of temptation.  He PROSPERS in “whatever” he does.  Why?  Not because he is such a special individual and accomplishes it in himself but because of the aforementioned items.  It is the things HE DOES NOT DO and the things HE DOES DO that condition his heart and life to the place that God can use him, mold him, and make him into that which God has designed and desired.  He is one of whom it can be said, “He/She fulfilled the purposes of God in his/her generation….”

    So as you go through your day go with the commitment to live Psalm One on a daily basis!  May God be with you as you go through your day and enable you to be a light shining into darkness!

     BLESSINGS!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

DO YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL FEET?


Spiritual Blog - Feet

Romans 10:14-15 – “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” NASU

            This last part is a quote from Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” NKJV Paul, a preacher, teacher, apostle extraordinaire calls attention to the importance of PREACHING or SHARING THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to the World.  I love his simple but detailed and to the point transition.

  1. How can you expect someone to call upon God if they have not believed in Him?
  2. How can you expect anyone to believe in God if they have not heard of Him?
  3. How can they hear unless someone tells them about Him?
  4. The one telling them is designated a PREACHER.
  5. Those who preach are SENT ONES from the Lord.

        Then quoting Isaiah he uses a most interesting picture about “Beautiful Feet” of those who bring the Good News!  The feet are not normally associated with body parts that are beautiful.  I say that with respect to most of us at least.  Yet, the feet were the primary means of transportation in Paul’s day.  You and I who spread the “Good News” could be identified as “foot soldiers” for Jesus.

THE FEET ARE BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE:

  1. As a means of transportation, they brought light into darkness.
  2. As a means of transportation, they brought the power of the Gospel to the world.
  3. As a means of transportation, they brought Salvation to a lost world.
  4. As a means of transportation, they brought Hope to the Hopeless.

         I don’t know about you but if something brings me HOPE when there is DISPAIR it is a beautiful vehicle in my eyes!  In Paul’s day, it was a common expression that a student would “sit at the feet” of the teacher and learn.  The feet were associated with the bringing of information, knowledge, and even wisdom.  Therefore, it is not the actual body part that holds the beauty but the fact that it enabled the PREACHER to come forward with the GOOD NEWS!  Therein is the beauty!  So, if you are sharing the Good News I declare that you are one of which this speaks as having “beautiful feet” and a “beautiful heart.”

         May God be with you as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment