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In the days of ancient Israel when prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah walked the land telling Israel what the word of the Lord was, their preferred method of travel was by foot, though it was mostly because sports cars hadn't been invented yet. Included in this mode of transit was the pain and dirt that hiking over dusty roads and mountain trails would have brought into their feet. The walking would create blisters and scrapes and dirt and mud would coat the bare or sandled feet. Even more painful was the job of being a messenger in those days, as you would have to run from town to town over those same roads and trails. Sacrificing comfort for speed a messenger would have the most beat-up feet of all. This makes it interesting than what Isaiah would say about these messengers
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
The feet of those who bear good news were not really beautiful, in fact, considering all they went through, I'd say they were probably the opposite. Isaiah being a prophet travelling around southern Israel warning people of judgment but also of future salvation, would know more than most about just how ugly those feet were and yet he called them beautiful because of the Gospel message in the messenger's heart and on his mouth.
This month I've often thought about this verse as I come home from meetings with people with my hands dirty with grease and my boots covered in cow dung (I'm thankful it's not the other way around). Often times my visiting takes me into interesting situations some messy others not.
This month Cristyn and I had the pleasure to be able to join a farmer and his neighbours in order to help check cows to see if they were pregnant. This involved a lot of shouting at cows which I found fun, and even an opportunity to stick my hand inside a cow, which I politely declined.
At lunchtime, once all the cows had been checked and we had all joined each other around the kitchen table, surrounded by unbelievers minus the farmer's wife, I was asked to say grace. As I prayed I asked for health for the calves, thanked the Lord for good weather and asked that everything that we did and would do in that day would be glorifying to God. My prayer in front and for a group of people lost and without Christ was pointing to the truth that all that we had been given was from the God who is king overall. Not only that but I had been given an entryway into each of the lives of those gathered around the table, and my hope and prayer is that when I see them next, God would use our brief time together in the mud and dung and even my prayer at the lunch table to open doors to share the Gospel.
Lord willing the mucky boots of those who share the Gospel, would become beautiful because of the message of forgiveness of sin and eternal life that I share and that the cold wind that bite our faces would be worthy suffering because of the witness in our community that we gained by coming alongside our neighbours (and also a reminder to wear more socks).
Throughout my ministry at Lakes community church, I have found that spending time working and eating and playing and getting dirty is one of the best ways to begin to talk about those good tidings and the peace that we can have with God. The dirt and grime and poop on my boots and the cold toes that Cristyn and I experienced are beautiful because they come from the trails and roads that we travel on to bring the good news, and in a more or less literal sense, the dirt and grime and pain and damage that we face as Christians who are set on being messengers of the Gospel, will end up being beautiful too as the Gospel is spread through all of our travels. I hope and pray that God would keep my feet dirty and my message beautiful, and that he would do that in your life too.
As some of you know, Northern BC currently has restrictions that have told churches to go back to virtual services. This has been difficult to transition back to but we are thankful for the opportunity to serve in the community during this time.
Our province is also in a state of emergency. This week, our province had a downpour of 9 inches of rain which has resulted in floods, dead livestock, mudslides and the loss of one life. People in BC are fearful as they panic buy while some of our friends down south have evacuated from their homes.
Pray for our provinces.
Pray for Northern BC.
Today we find out if we are able to go to church and in the middle of a natural disaster and fear, we need the Word, love of God and encouragement from the Church Family now more than ever.
Pray we will be able to return to church this month.
Pray for Cris as she continues to raise her support for IVCF. A brief update will be provided for next week.
For a financial update with Villiage Missions, we are $75 a month away from our goal!
That is amazing and we could not do this work without your support! If you would like to take on that last $75 click the link below to set up a monthly donation.
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