In his letter to the Romans (a part we haven’t gotten to yet), the Apostle Paul writes:
“ 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is
written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” —Romans 10:14-15
The picture this week is not of beautiful feet from an aesthetic point of view. I should know, they are my feet! This photo was taken in 2012 on a mission trip to Romania. We were cleaning out the house of a man who could not do it himself. He was a shut-in, incapable of maintaining and caring for himself or his house.
The previous day at his house, my clothes became infested with fleas. They were all up and
down my legs, had found their way into my belt line and had bitten me hundreds of places. I had a pair of those convertible pants on, the kind where the lower legs zip off to turn into shorts. Driving home from his house, I found fleas crawling in the zippers. They were everywhere!
So, day two brought a new strategy — shorts and flip-flops. I wanted to see them coming and get them off before they got too far up my legs. It resulted in some really dirty, gross feet. When I took this picture, I did not have the above passage in mind, I really just wanted a photo of how dirty my feet became.
But as I’ve reflected on this photo over the years in light of Paul’s words, I love it more and
more. I have had the pleasure of getting to travel to lots of fun places to visit our missions
partners and to share the Gospel. I’ve been able to preach in Ecuador and Uganda and have been able to encourage believers in those countries as well as in Cuba, Spain, Mexico and all over the country. Hope partners with amazing individuals and ministries that are sharing the Good News of Jesus to those in their communities.
We talk a lot around Hope about not having to have it all together before you come to church. It’s the same with sharing the Gospel. Our feet don’t have to be perfect to take the Good News to our neighborhoods, our cities, state, country and to the ends of the earth. We just need to be willing. To say yes to the opportunities God places in front of us.
This coming Sunday will be Missions Sunday. We’ll highlight and hear updates on a lot of our missions partners around the world. We will also have some local partners here sharing what they do and how you can support or get involved in their ministries. I’d encourage you to visit them, learn about their ministry and seek the Lord’s guidance as to where He is calling you to jump in. It might not involve a pedicure, but it will make your feet beautiful!
Blessings,
Charlie
“ 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is
written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” —Romans 10:14-15
The picture this week is not of beautiful feet from an aesthetic point of view. I should know, they are my feet! This photo was taken in 2012 on a mission trip to Romania. We were cleaning out the house of a man who could not do it himself. He was a shut-in, incapable of maintaining and caring for himself or his house.
The previous day at his house, my clothes became infested with fleas. They were all up and
down my legs, had found their way into my belt line and had bitten me hundreds of places. I had a pair of those convertible pants on, the kind where the lower legs zip off to turn into shorts. Driving home from his house, I found fleas crawling in the zippers. They were everywhere!
So, day two brought a new strategy — shorts and flip-flops. I wanted to see them coming and get them off before they got too far up my legs. It resulted in some really dirty, gross feet. When I took this picture, I did not have the above passage in mind, I really just wanted a photo of how dirty my feet became.
But as I’ve reflected on this photo over the years in light of Paul’s words, I love it more and
more. I have had the pleasure of getting to travel to lots of fun places to visit our missions
partners and to share the Gospel. I’ve been able to preach in Ecuador and Uganda and have been able to encourage believers in those countries as well as in Cuba, Spain, Mexico and all over the country. Hope partners with amazing individuals and ministries that are sharing the Good News of Jesus to those in their communities.
We talk a lot around Hope about not having to have it all together before you come to church. It’s the same with sharing the Gospel. Our feet don’t have to be perfect to take the Good News to our neighborhoods, our cities, state, country and to the ends of the earth. We just need to be willing. To say yes to the opportunities God places in front of us.
This coming Sunday will be Missions Sunday. We’ll highlight and hear updates on a lot of our missions partners around the world. We will also have some local partners here sharing what they do and how you can support or get involved in their ministries. I’d encourage you to visit them, learn about their ministry and seek the Lord’s guidance as to where He is calling you to jump in. It might not involve a pedicure, but it will make your feet beautiful!
Blessings,
Charlie