10 Jun Beautiful Feet

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation…”

(Isaiah 52:7)

I was treated to a pedicure recently, and it got me thinking about this verse and the beautiful feet that Isaiah speaks of. Obviously the Scripture is not speaking of soft skin and painted nails!

So why does God call the feet of those that carry His gospel beautiful? What does that beauty look like? And how does that speak to women who are called to be on mission with God?

Being a woman, pretty feet appeal to me. But this beauty that Isaiah speaks of has nothing to do with 21^st century pedicures! It has everything to do with the gospel message that we are to carry to others: a Savior has come to redeem us from our sin and has done everything necessary to bring us into life-changing and life-giving relationship with Himself! Because the message itself is so beautiful, the feet bearing it are also beautiful. And yet, as we all know, those around us often don’t see us or the gospel as lovely at all! We live in a world that is increasingly hostile to the gospel message, the very message it most desperately needs. Therefore, it is imperative that we live intentionally as beautiful messengers carrying a beautiful message to a lost world.

What does that look like? The Hebrew word for “beautiful” means pleasant, suitable, and pleasing. When we carry the gospel message to the world we are to do so in a way that is winsome, appropriate, and attractive … in a way that is inviting. Many words might describe that winsome delivery in our encounters and relationships with people: authentic, caring, genuine, patient, kind, truthful, loving, compassionate, supportive, just to list a few. Feet are instruments of movement. So our calling to move towards others in nurturing and partnering takes on a whole new dimension when it is lived out in the context of sharing the good news with someone in need of salvation.

What is clear is that as women created in the image of the God who has saved us, we are called by Him to have “beautiful feet.” Beautiful feet are missional feet! That means that wherever we go, we are to carry the gospel. In our words, in our actions, even in our countenance, we are to pleasantly represent our Savior, allowing His eternal beauty and truth to shine through us. From chance interactions with strangers to deep conversations with friends and family, every daily encounter we have offers both the blessed privilege and blessed responsibility of bringing good news of the true life that Christ alone offers. How that looks for each of us will be as diverse as we are, and as different as each day’s experience! Yet, pedicure or not, we each can be – and should be – women with beautiful feet!