Beautiful often leads us to think of 
And, as Valentine’s Day comes and goes, such images often direct our appreciation and definitions of beauty and love.
In contrast to this infatuational focus on the facade of outward beauty or on making a good appearance, the bible presents a much different portrait of what is beautiful.
My wife, who is one of God’s beautiful gifts, shared with me about her bible study this week. She is a part of Bible Study Fellowship. The study is currently discussing Romans 10. One of the focus verses was Romans 10:15, in which it says: “And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”
Just as Jesus went throughout the land teaching the good news of the Kingdom, we are called to do the same. What is the good news we must bring? Time after time after time throughout the gospels and Acts the good news is shown to be simply: Jesus. It’s not church. It’s not activity. It’s not living well. It’s not praying a certain prayer or walking an aisle. It’s not Jesus plus and it’s not anything other than Jesus.
It’s simply clinging to the One who did live well. It isn’t presenting a beautiful picture of oneself; rather, it is admitting that the real person beneath the facade is more beast than beauty and knowing that you are safe with God to do so. It’s trusting that Jesus lived and died and lived again so that we might live. It is letting that faith transform our lives from the trappings of self worship into being followers of Jesus, His teachings and His ways, as radical as they be. For He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life and He alone came to bring us abundant life, to set us free.
In contrast to the message of “Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there” (Isaiah 28:10, 13), there is a “precious cornerstone for a sure foundation” and “the one who trusts [in Him] will never be dismayed.” (Isaiah 28:16; Romans 10:11). That foundation is a gift from the Father. By definition a gift is unconditional and requires nothing but receipt. For God so loved the world that He gave Jesus and whoever believes in Jesus shall have eternal life. Think on Galatians 3 and on Ephesians 2.
So, may my feet be beautiful. May all Christians adorn their feet beautifully with the gospel of peace. Let us continue Jesus’ call to follow Him and shows others the Way to follow Jesus, giving glory to God who loves us as we are and simply asks us to believe. And, yes, that means we need to be telling others about Jesus, His life, His death, His resurrection.
Ironically, it was just a few days ago that I posted on lessons at the hairy feet of Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. I have to wonder if there are many religious leaders today, whose feet look a little bit more like a hobbit’s than they should. Or, worse yet, they are like the false teachers Peter warned of in 2 Peter 2, whom Peter compared to brute beasts, men who would belittle the Truth and bemuse many about the beauty of the good news.
Who would want to follow those anyway?