Today I am going to use scripture to paint the background for this message. God's word is the manual to our lives, I feel it is appropriate to use it.
Colossians 3:1-2 "1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
What are the things of above?Revelation 7:16 "16Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat."
Revelation 22:5 "5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:25 "25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."
Romans 10:11-15
11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [Isaiah 28:16 says "whoever believes will not act hastily."]12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [Joel 2:32 Whoever calls on the name...]
14How, 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? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Paul proposes a series of circumstantial but real issues as to the expansion of Gods Kingdom. Verses 14 & 15 seem to be a missionaries selling point and mission statement combined. He creates conviction and perpetuates action with these philosophical questions. He uses established Old Testament evidences to elebate a New Testament concept. How effective would he have been in addressing Rome plainly with "Jesus said...?" The interest and impact of this message would have certainly diminished.
- To call on the name of the Lord, one must know the name of the Lord.
- To know the name of the Lord/King is to know and believe in it's meaning
- In order to hear and understand one must be told.
- To be told, one must be sent to preach.
- To preach is to have beautiful feet.
- To have blessed feet is to have a blessed body and path in life. (this also might represent a blessed foundation on which one stands.
- Ultimately feet are goofy looking a commonly dirty, to be blessed is to overlook these and find them absolutely beautiful.
- Preachers of the Good News need continual blessings and Gods hand of guidance and healing in order to go on.
2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."
1 Timothy 4:13 "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching"
1 Timothy 2:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Timothy was given strict guidelines to set the bar high, the same instructions go to all who preach Jesus. God is always guiding you . Isaiah 30:21-22 "whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "This is the way; walk in it." Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"
Whatever your calling, seek it for the betterment of the Kingdom of Heaven, Follow the guidelines given to us in scripture to maintain a Godly composure and Gods blessing. Carry the Gospel with you always, wherever you go.
God bless.
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