Tag: Feet

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Feet of the Messenger

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Scripture: Isaiah 52:7

How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

I remember reading this for the first time in my late 20s or early 30s and was so intrigued by it. I was using the NIV study Bible then, which, along with the KJV and NLT translations, uses the word beautiful instead of delightful. It has the same meaning, but the word beautiful really struck me and has stuck in my mind all these years. When I hear the Gospel preached on Sunday morning or think of Billy Graham’s crusades that my dad had us watch when we were growing up, or in any other setting where I hear His Word of peace and salvation proclaimed – the Spirit raises this verse to mind, and I stand transfixed to that moment in time when the people first heard the messenger on the mountain, that Isaiah refers to.

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns!

Isa 52:7 NLT

Isaiah’s word imagery is also used in the Old Testament by the prophet Nahum in Nahum 1:15, where we read:  “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” It is used again by Paul in the New Testament, in Romans 10:14-15, as a reference to “missions” and carrying the Gospel to the unreached – where Paul poses the question,  “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”

In Isaiah’s day, his words were meant to leave Judah rejoicing in deliverance from captivity to their enemy. The same was true in Paul’s day, and even now, the words can should evoke rejoicing in the “goodness’ of our salvation and the freedom it brought us. For by it, we have been delivered from captivity to the law of sin and death! (Romans 6:14-15)

Is this not a beautiful message of peace that Paul delivered, bringing us the ‘good news’ of our salvation?!


14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Roman 6:14-15
Other Notable Observations
  • Having learned from Ephesians 2:14 that “Jesus is our peace,” this could read “…the feet of a messenger who announces Jesus.
  • It wasn’t just the feet; it was the message – the good news of deliverance
  • Freedom comes through the Sovereign God who reigns!
One Obvious Application

While there may be other worthy applications, the one that jumped off the page to me was – be ready with the Gospel.

A Prayer in Response to the Word

Father, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news that “our God saves!” Thank You for calling Your disciples – myself included to share this Good News with ALL! And, as Peter said, to be ready with an answer for the HOPE that is in me, 1 Peter 3:15. Help me to be excited about the message of Good News and not let the enemy keep me silent. Help me to live as Paul taught – unashamed of the gospel, the Good News about Christ, for it is You at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Help me to remember that Christ himself united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us – so that I don’t hold back but share and work as He did to bring all people to You. – In His Name I pray – AMEN!

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[a]

1 Peter 3:15 and Romans 1:16

Reflection on the Journey
  • How can we make sure that our feet are fitted with the “Gospel of Peace”?
  • What “mountains” can you ascend with the good news of the Gospel?
Going Further:

“God has called each of us to be a messenger of His love and grace to those around us.”

The LGG Devotional Journal

These are great and helpful links to understanding what Paul meant by not being ashamed of the Gospel and how to be ready to implement the Gospel in your everyday life.

By nature, we are not at peace with God, but are enemies to Him, living in rebellious pride. Our responsibility is to share the gospel of peace, telling people that they can turn to God and come to Jesus for forgiveness. Whether through our words, actions, or simply the way we live our lives, we have the privilege and responsibility to share the Good News of salvation and the peace that only God provides.

The LGG Devotional Journal

The Good News of salvation is not just for us: it is for everyone. We have been given the privilege of sharing it with the world. Let us take courage, lift up our heads, and go forth with joy, knowing that our feet are beautiful because they carry the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The LGG Devotional Journal

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Jesus Our Peace

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w3d3

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-18 / SOAP: verse 17

 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near

Ephesians 2:17 NET
Note the Difference

This peace is more than the peace we seek and know when we face a test tomorrow or a real and present battle today. This peace is what brings us near to God, giving us access to Him – the One who guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It doesn’t negate or change the peace that passes all understand that we seek in order to not worry, as Paul instructed, but rather it is the Peace that makes all other peace possible.

A Portrait of the Real and Lasting Peace of God

What a beautiful and encouraging passage of Scripture! Perhaps one of the most realistic portraits of Christ our Savior that is painted in – and with – the Word. Jesus as our peace, His blood pouring down as access for all who would believe – no longer just the Jews but now the Gentiles were included! Or as Paul writes in Colossians, “.It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free.” We are brought near to God through Christ! Why? Because there was hostility [sin] between us and God. We were, as it is written, “enemies of God” who were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,”.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. Read the rest of the story

 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Ephesians 2:17 NLT – I can’t help but think once again of the old hymn, “Peace peace wonderful peace – flowing down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love.”

Think About It

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10
  • His act of love wasn’t just His death but His life – for He left Heaven’s splendor and lived the life of a man, actually of a servant, in a “man’s world”, full of sin and far different from from Heaven’s splendor – not so that He could experience life with flesh and blood but so “He could first preach the message of PEACE” (John 14:27, Matt 5:9) to all so that through Him we have access to both the Father and the Spirit – and as verse 15 says, so that there would be no more condemnation. (Romans 8:1).
Reflection on the Journey
  • What does it mean that He preached peace to those who were far off?
  • What does it mean that Jesus brought us near? (13)
Going Further:

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Shoes

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor of God, w3d1

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 / SOAP: verse 15

 – by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,

Ephesians 6:15

This verse is not meant to stand alone, so let’s look again at the ones that come before it. As you read, notice all of the instructions we are given for living out our faith well –

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with (the full armor of God), so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.13 For this reason, (take up the full armor of God) so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, (and having done everything, to stand.) 14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace –

The Responsibility is Ours

As believers we have been saved by grace through faith, it is a free and forever gift of God. That being said we are given responsibilities as believers that we must strive for the rest of our Christian life. James said, “Faith without works is dead.” He encourages the believer to not just read or hear the Word but to live it out. Living out our faith doesn’t have to be a mystery, that is the purpose of His Word and the examples set before us in Christ and the other disciples and men and women of faith throughout Scripture

So far in our study we have been given the responsibility of “putting on” the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. In today’s soap verse we have been given the task of “fitting our feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace.” This is the third piece of armor we are called to wear in preparation for battle. We will spend the week learning more about this peace, what it is, and how to apply/wear it well. Remember we are to suit up in the “full armor” so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil (11,13), and not just stand but we are to stand firm (14).

Shoes

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

Ephesians 6:15

I love the way the New Living Translation and others translate verse 15 using the word “shoes”. I loved going barefoot as a child and still to this day I would rather have my shoes off than on, but I have learned that there are times where it is very helpful to wear my shoes. It is also helpful to wear the right shoes. For instance, I would not wear my snow boots on a sandy beach nor my beach shoes on a snow walk. I love my comfy slip on shoes but I know not to wear them on a three-mile walk. The same is true of the soldier who has his belt and and breastplate in place, he knows he has to have have his feet in the right shoes in order to use the other pieces of his armor well. Just like the shoes of the soldier make him ready for battle the “Gospel of peace” makes the believer ready for spiritual battle. We will look more intently at what this all means in the days to come – but for today suit up with the belt of TRUTH and the breastplate of righteousness – and don’t forget to fit your feet with the peace that comes from the Gospel, the Good News about Christ.

The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation.

gotquestions.org
Reflection on the Journey
  • What does Ephesians 6:15 teach us about the importance of having our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace?
  • What are some practical ways we can prepare ourselves to share the Gospel with others?
Going Further:

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Draw Near: Week 5, Tuesday — The Living and Enduring Word of God

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 119:105; 1 Peter 1:22-23 (SOAP: 1 Peter 1:22-23)

1 Peter 1:22-23

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. — 23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

The Word of God and the Spirit of God are essential in bringing to light our sinful hearts and leading us to repentance. Without the light of God’s Word our darkened hearts cannot be wakened to our need for a savior.

Read the full devotion at LGG

If you have questions about God’s Word or would like to know Jesus as Your Savior, please leave me a comment with your question or simply say: I want to know –