Have you ever heard the song "HAPPY FEET" by Paolo Conte? Probably not, since only about a fifth of it is in English (the rest in Italian). However, I love that song. Despite the fact that I can't understand it, the song lends an upbeat feeling, and is cute and catchy. It's one of those annoying songs that you sing that 'ONE LINE' from because it sticks in your head and you can't remember any other words from the song. So, I apologize ahead of time if you end up singing it every time you take your sneakers off. I haven't figured out how to link music on my own site yet - I'm still learning - you'll have to cut me some slack. But, if you are just dying to hear this cute little ditty - here's a painless link to it without any annoying pop-ups:
So this is part two of my "Bless Your Feet" 3 Part Series - except tonight after typing this up, I discovered it is too much stuff to fit into 3 parts. Sorry I'm so long-winded. So, I'm changing my previous post to say 4 part series... and soon you'll see why!
Tonight I wanted to cover the Spiritual Feet. For those of you who missed the first part, we talked about how most of the verses in the bible regarding feet refer to our spiritual direction, and not our physical body. When our Spirit is healthy, our soul is joyful (even when our circumstances are not perfect). That is what the Bible calls the "peace that passes understanding". People just can't understand why you have a smile on your face even though your house hasn't sold in seven months and your bank account is almost negative. That's God's peace. It is very confusing to the world, but they somehow find themselves wanting it. I know because I saw it in my grandmother when I was not a believer - even when she was dying of cancer... and I saw it in other family members, too. I wanted it. I wanted to know how to get it for myself.
Everyone wants to be happy. So let's take off our shoes and see what's hiding in those spiritual socks of ours. What kind of feet do we have? Are they GOOD, BAD, or UGLY? Hopefully I'll step on your toes... I certainly got mine stepped on by a few of these definitions and verses. Today, we'll cover just the good feet. ...In my next two "Foot Posts" we'll discuss the BAD (Spiritual) and the UGLY (Physical) ones!
Examples of Good Feet:
Worshiping Feet
Matthew 28:9 - Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Luke 10:39 - She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
Good feet are worshiping feet. They are feet that know where they get their strength from - like Mary, the one who worships sits at Jesus' feet and makes the 'best choice'. Jesus' feet are where we should be falling, just like the woman who touched his cloak and was healed. Just like the disciples who gathered around him every day to hear his wisdom.
We all have our reasons for falling at Jesus' feet. So did the people in the Bible. God made each of us unique, so we all have a different story and the Lord knows how to reach each of us. Many people came to Jesus when their family members or friends were sick - they wanted his healing power. Many people came to Jesus and fell at his feet to have their family members released from demons - they wanted freedom and forgiveness from the curses they endured. Some rulers of the synagogue fell at Jesus' feet in a mock show of respect, even though they had plans to capture and kill him. Even demons fell at his feet in recognition of his authority over them... they begged him to not torture them. God looks into our hearts and knows why we come to Him. He made us to be a display of His splendor, to know and to love Him. But He gave us the will to choose the path we go down. We are not a people who's feet are chained by God. In fact, just the opposite. He longs to set our feet free - from the devil's shackles. Worship is a lifestyle of choosing God over our own selfishness. It isn't something we do only on one day a week at a church building.
Obedient Feet
Mark 10:50 - Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Ephesians 6:15 - and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Good feet are submissive/obedient feet. They are feet which do not hesitate or delay to do the Will of the Father. In my house, we have a saying: "If you are delaying, you are disobeying". I actually got that phrase from Tedd Tripp's book "Shepherding a Child's Heart". God has put everything under Jesus' feet. It is useless to kick against him. We forget sometimes that everything is under God's command - we are the only creature in this physical world who can choose to disobey Him. Not only does it benefit us to obey him with positive rewards, but it prevents us from being disciplined when we obey as well. Just like our kids when they choose to willingly do what we tell them not to, we bring disaster on our lives when we get outside of God's protective circle by not doing His will.
Loving Feet
Luke 7:38 - and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luke 7:45 - You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
Matthew 15:30 - Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.
Good feet love the Father and are shamelessly open about it. Good feet are feet that have a ready word of praise to bless our Lord. We give Him credit for our successes and are eager to share what He has done for us.
Jesus was called a "Friend of Sinners" and although it was meant to dishonor and discredit his ministry, it actually was the most loving title a Holy God could have been given. For a perfect man or God to love a sinner, there must be a mountain of forgiveness and love. I know that most of us would admit that there are times when we are very unlovable. It is often said that it would be hard to "live with yourself". It is a good thing that God gave us each other - husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, teachers, and even animal companions to share our houses and lives. These people are not only gifts that bless our lives, but they are also God's children. He loves them as much as He loves us. His command is for us to love one-another. It is only second to loving God, and it should be equal to loving ourselves. We can only truly love others and ourselves if we love God first. He gives us the ability to forgive and serve each other - even when the other person seems just as much of a sinner as we are. Jesus was the perfect example of a servant leader. A man who leads others by serving them in love. I don't know about you, but I'm inspired by His love for me - and it makes me want to be a more loving person towards others.
Focused Feet
Romans 10:15 - And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Hebrews 12:13 - "Make level paths for your feet," [ Prov. 4:26] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Good feet are aware of their calling. Even if they may not know exactly what God has planned as a ministry for them, they know His Word and can test all things against it to know what is true and noble. They know their weaknesses and pray for guidance along the rocky path. They are not afraid to stop and wait for orders. They follow Jesus where He leads.
It is very easy to be distracted. We even get distracted by good things - things that are urgent and important - things that are church-related - things that bless our family. But, if we don't take time to keep our focus on the things of God, we can be spinning our wheels instead of moving firmly towards where the Lord is leading. It is the same in homeschooling. There are a million choices when it comes to curriculum, co-ops, field trips, books, activities, etc. - but if we try and do everything aimlessly, we will burn out and accomplish nothing. You have to simplify your life and find out what pleases the Lord... do what is necessary to move you towards His heavenward goal for your family, and learn to say "no" when you know it will overextend you. Make a list of what you know your jobs are according to God's word. It will make prioritizing your day so much easier when you ask yourself if it is part of God's plan for you and your family before you say "yes".
Friendly Feet
1 Timothy 5:10 - and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
John 13:14 - Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.
Good feet bless the body they move - their support and strength helps others find their way. They are wholly dedicated to the destination. They prayerfully lead others, and they carry others burdens.
I think a lot of the reason why we endure burdens ourselves is to learn how it feels to carry them, so that when we see another in the same place, we can help them out. God gives us the ability to have compassion on each other when he lets us endure trials that give us kinship with each other. I certainly have been blessed by many friendly feet in my walk with God. We have had friends at church lend us a refrigerator when ours went out, we have had friends at church baby-sit for us so that we could work, we have had friends at church help us with financial burdens and lend things to us they knew we needed. We have also had friends who have been prayer warriors for our family and have given us genuine love and friendship through the years. I am so thankful that God gave us friends. I have heard it said that "Friends are the family you get to choose". This is true - you choose to be part of God's family - and they are very loving (despite being human). None of us are perfect, and we all require forgiveness, but friends are a treasure indeed! I pray that God makes me as good a friend as I want others to be to me.
To move forward to part 3, click here!
All verses in this post and most others are taken from the New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society unless otherwise noted.
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