Romans 10:15 As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” [New International translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
The Book of Romans is often considered one of Paul’s greatest letters. At that time some considered Rome to be the most important city in the known world, so perhaps Paul wanted to make his letter to the Roman church especially clear as to the nature of the Gospel and how Christians should live and act.
In Romans 10:15 Paul emphasizes the importance of preaching the Gospel of peace, the glad tidings of the good news. The word “Gospel,” in Greek means the good news of the coming of the Messiah.
When Paul states “as it is written,” he is referencing the writings of the Prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 52:7, Isaiah states:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the happy news of peace and salvation, the news that the GOD of Israel reigns. The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for right before their eyes they see the LORD GOD bring HIS people home again.
The image that Paul and Isaiah want to evoke is the image of “the heralder,” the runner who leaves the battlefield to bring back great news to those waiting anxiously at home that GOD had “saved HIS people from defeat. Just seeing the runner approaching with shouting and singing and great joy was a sign that there would be peace, that there would be life (i.e., soldiers would be returning home to their families) and there would be salvation (i.e., GOD’s people would not be enslaved by the enemy).
There was nothing more welcoming and nothing more beautiful than the feet of the bearer of such good news.
Paul wants to convey the importance of how Christians should feel about the task of spreading or preaching the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Like the “heralder,” preachers and those telling others about CHRIST, should approach their task joyfully, for they are bringing news of victory over death and news of life everlasting. The Gospel message should be spread with “happy feet,” “joyful feet” and “singing feet.” Both the giver and the receiver are blessed by the message.
PROBLEM FEET
In some of the old 1930’s and 1940’s movies, when a character encountered a frightening situation, and his body would seize up rendering him immobile, one of the comedic expressions the character would utter was “Feet don’t fail me now!”
Unfortunately, many people have foot problems and often feel their feet are failing them.
Some common foot problems include:
-
-
- Bunions;
- Heel pain or tightness;
- Lack of circulation;
- Stiffness;
- Instability;
- Weak ligaments.
-
EXERCISE MAY PROVIDE SOME RELIEF
One of the exercises that WebMD suggests may relieve heel pain and stiffness is calf stretches. This exercise stretches the muscles at the back of the leg (the calf) down into the Achilles tendon, an area above the back of the heel. To do this stretch:
Calf Stretch
-
-
- Stand facing a wall about eye level.
- Put your hands on the wall and then step back about one step on the leg you want to stretch
- Keeping your back heel down, bend your front knee slowly until you feel a stretch in your back leg. Hold for about 15 or 20 seconds and then reverse the legs
- Repeat this procedure about 2-3 times.
-
Another foot exercise to help with muscular tightness in the toe raise, point, and curl.
Toe Raise, Point, and Curl
This exercise strengthens all parts of the foot and toes and has three parts:
-
-
- Sit in a straight chair, with your feet flat on the floor
- [First Pose] Keeping the toes on the floor, raise your heels. Stop when only the balls of the feet remain on the ground. Hold for about 5 seconds and then slowly lower your heels to the ground.
- [Second Pose] Now slowly raise the heels and point the toes so that only the tips of the big and second toe touch the floor. Hold for about 5 seconds and then slowly lower your heels to the floor.
- [Third Pose] Now slowly raise the heels and curl the toes inward so that only the tips of the toes are touching the floor. Hold this pose for about 5 seconds and then slowly lower your heels to the floor.
- Repeat each of the exercises about 10 times.
-
Toe Extension
-
-
- Sit in a straight chair with your feet flat on the floor
- Place the left foot on the right thigh
- Pull the toes up toward the ankles. (There should be a stretching feeling along the bottom of the foot and heel cord.) Hold for about 10 seconds.
- Gently massage the arch of the foot while stretching to help ease any pain or tension.
- Repeat this exercise 10 times on each foot.
-
For visuals for these exercises, go to: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320964#for-pain
If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition, you have a painful foot problem, you are taking medications or have other medical concerns, speak to your personal physician about what exercises or workout routine is best for you. A podiatrist, a doctor trained in treating foot problems, may also be helpful.
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS WITH BEAUTIFUL FEET
Part of the great commission (Matthew 28: 16-20) is to make disciples of all nations. We are to bring good news—with great joy! We are to have beautiful feet.
One way to have beautiful feet is to have praying feet. Paul invites each of us to remember this GREAT GOSPEL, to celebrate our salvation and the salvation of others as we bring THE WORD.
Good news is needed now more than ever.
Pray for those who need Good News, for those spreading good news, and for those who receive good news. Pray that our feet do not fail us.
Be Cheerful! Be joyful! Be loving in spreading the Good News (The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST).
PRAY as you spread GOD’s WORD!
BE BLESSED and BE a BLESSING!
