Beautiful feet

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” 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? 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!””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:12-15‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Beautiful feet

One of the greatest things I have ever faced is watching people struggle to deal with a big problem with small, meaningless solutions. I watch them struggle and fail, struggle some more and fail. At some point they declare victory and walk away from the effort until it inevitably pops up again.

I mourn over my past tendency to seek to apply temporary patches to the issues that I have struggled with. I kick the can down the road in the hopes that I wouldn’t encounter it again soon. I always walk up on it and then go through the whole painful process again. Little by little I am learning to seek the One who can bring a lasting solution. I know that Jesus is the bondage breaker, the one that can break the chains that hold me to my endless struggle.

Today, America is in bondage. We are trying to deal with a centuries old sin with a quick fix. We are trying to legislate our way out of it. It didn’t work before, it won’t work now. Those that want the issues addressed are falling back on the old, tired method of being so annoying that the powers that be will somehow relent. I learned early in life that such methods get you a short term gain, but as soon as the pressure is off, life goes back to its previous state, often worse than before.

American needs a bondage breaker, a life re-maker, a heart transformation.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. Only salvation in Christ and the forgiveness of sins can change the people of the country at the core. It is the great equality maker. There is no black, no white, no jew, no Greek, only people saved by the blood of the Lamb. People separated by sin, can only be united by the most Holy God. Both sides are spending so much time pointing out the sins of the other. We are all sinners. We all do sinful things.

But Jesus!

He went to the cross for me. He took the penalty that I should have borne on Himself. I did nothing to be worthy. He paid for my sin debt, He paid for sin of the hater and the hated. There are no more fingers to be pointed. The same Lord is the Lord of all, Lord of the high and the low, the great and the small. In Him we have the riches of God through Christ. There is no bias. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

This tumultuous time is a call to the people of God, the people with message of the Gospel in their hearts. We are called to be the messengers, to use the time that we have to share the good news. We bring the story of God’s glory in the lives we bring to others. It is time to move those beautiful feet. To the walk for the Gospel, to seek peace.

Many are seeking justice. A righting of wrongs done. Our sin brought the greatest wrong against Jesus Christ. I am glad that my God offers grace. His justice for my sin against His Son is eternity in hell. All of humanity has the finger of God aimed at it. By the grace of God, He has offered forgiveness.

I must bring that forgiveness to those who have persecuted me, who have damaged me. I go in protected and upheld by the God of the Universe. If I am rejected, they are rejecting God.

Believers, you have beautiful feet. Feet shod with the Gospel of one Jesus Christ. Pray for opportunities to dialogue. I heard this morning that people are buying up all the books about race in the hope of healing the divide. That is a good thing. Opening up the Bible is an even better thing. The word of God is a tie that binds. Prayer is another. Peace comes in the surrender.

Be bold and share. Find that person of another race and begin the dialogue. Start talking. Those who have called on the name of the Lord have a built in advantage: we are united by the Holy Spirit.

Those caught up in the tumult need the messengers. They are not going to hear otherwise. We are to be the preachers, the ones sent to proclaim Christ.

Ask the Lord to send you!