March 15, 2011
Central Truth
Your feet can bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others so they do not become too comfortable and busy with their own causes.
How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
(Isaiah 52:7)
1
Awake, awake,
put on your strength, O Zion;
put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city;
for there shall no more come into you
the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2
Shake yourself from the dust and arise;
be seated, O Jerusalem;
loose the bonds from your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” 4 For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. 1 52:4 Or the Assyrian has oppressed them of late 5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the LORD, “and continually all the day my name is despised. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”
7
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8
The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
the return of the LORD to Zion.
9
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10
The LORD has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
11
Depart, depart, go out from there;
touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves,
you who bear the vessels of the LORD.
12
For you shall not go out in haste,
and you shall not go in flight,
for the LORD will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
13
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
2
52:13
Or shall prosper
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
14
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15
so shall he sprinkle
3
52:15
Or startle
many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Although Isaiah is referring to the wonderful time when Christ returns, we can learn from watching our feet. In this passage there are beautiful feet that bring good news, proclaim peace, and acknowledge that our God reigns. Do you have beautiful feet? Are you committed to sharing the good news of Christ's dying for our sins, as the writer here does here looking forward to Christ's return?
In our day and age, our feet are covered by our shoes. What kind of shoe are you?
Are you the shoe that belongs in a ballroom? Ballroom shoes are beautiful, but not practical. They are lovely to look at, but worn infrequently. Is this how you share the gospel? You may look good, but you do it infrequently and cannot wait to be done?
Are you the flip flops of a vacationer that love being served rather than serving; strolling along, enjoying rest rather than work? Are you waiting to share Christ because you are taking it easy for a time?
Are you waterproof rain boots that are so busy protecting yourself from outside forces that you do not have a chance to share the gospel? After all, you do not want to be uncomfortable.
Are you the shoes of runner? Are you determined and disciplined? Rain or shine, are you running the race to bring others to Christ. Running shoes can go places you never thought possible and on journeys you never intended. Do you run with fervor as if there is a finish line ahead that keeps you focused with your eyes looking ahead?
"[B]ut one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
We can run the race well in our sturdy running shoes, spreading the saving grace of Jesus Christ on the cross; or we can put on our high heels and self-indulge like we are at a fancy party. Which will be it for you?
1. Have you entered into a personal relationship with Christ, and can you share your story of grace with others?
2. What kind of shoe would others describe you as?
3. Do you share God's good news as a running shoe and as if there is an urgent finish line? (Because there is!)
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
ISAIAH 51-55 (MAR 14-18)
Read Isaiah 53.
To whom does this chapter refer?
Activity: Fold a piece of paper in half, longwise. At the top of the left side, write "The Prophecy (Isaiah 53);" on the right side, write "It Happened! (New Testament)." Read each Isaiah verse and look in the New Testament (specifically the Gospels) for verses that show the prophecy coming true. Fill in the chart with what you find. Here are a few examples: Isaiah 53:2/Luke 2:52; Isaiah 53:5/John 19:34; Isaiah 53:9/Matthew 27:57-60; and Isaiah 53:12/Mark 15:27. Look for others!
Isn't it awesome that Isaiah prophesied about Jesus coming to be the Savior of the world? Have you put your trust in Him and accepted His gift of bearing your sins (verse 12)?