Beautiful Feet

Photo by EVG Kowalievska from Pexels

                                                  

Whenever we see someone, the person's physique is usually the point of attraction. We pay attention to easily noticeable and endearing features like the face: the bluish or brownish pupil, maybe a pointed nose, pink lips, crystal white teeth, dimples and their broad-chest and thick muscles even to not so easily noticeable features like flat stomach and so on.

Rarely do we ever get attracted to the feet of another maybe because it is sometimes covered with shoes, which although can lead to smelly feet after awhile by creating a good breeding ground for bacteria, can be another point of attraction (I really don't think anyone gives second thoughts as to the feet not even the owner).

I, like many of us, didn't think much about my feet until I saw something quite interesting but maybe overlooked in Isaiah chapter 52:7 which reads thus:

‘’How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation…’’(OKJV).

It baffles me that for God, our feet seem to be quite important to the point of distinguishing between a beautiful, attractive and appealing feet and that which isn't.  

Do you know that when we preach the good news (i.e. the gospel) either by distributing tracts, personal engagements or via social media and as we extend generous hands to the needs of others for the cause of the gospel, God finds our feet beautiful. And I think whatever attracts God attention is worth pursuing, having, and doing.  

Can God see your feet and say it is beautiful? Have you not ceased from doing the work of an evangelist? Have you not left your pastor alone to share the good news of the Love of Christ? Are you not only concerned about being attractive to people? However, it is God’s utmost desire, especially in this moment, that everyone of us will not drawback in sharing the gospel with others and gain that which God beholds as beautiful.

God bless you!!!

Written by : Afolabi Precious

Absolute Surrender

 I was speaking with a friend the other day about some life issues. We spoke about different pertinent issues, one of which was about our struggles as young unmarried men hoping to one day walk down the aisle with our envisaged damsels. If you are a young single christian man you will agree with me that it can be quite a herculean task to pursue chastity especially with the unwavering trend of perversion these days. You do not go after it again but rather it comes to you even to your door steps. It takes tens of trailer loads of grace if I must say, to resist. Anyways, whilst he was speaking we delved into somewhat of an uncharted territory that led us into a doorway of spiritual insights. 

Apparently, I did not fully grasp the weight of this conversation initially, not until I began to feel burdened in my heart as he was yet speaking. He retold the creation story in such a way that sprouted flickering thoughts all over my mind, nevertheless I pondered on them hoping to find meaning from what he said.

The creation story poses as the framework by which all things were made. The reference to God as the creator of all things supersedes myths and superstition rather it is a reality that bewilders mankind even to this day. Such a deep mystery can not be fathomed by the limited ability of our human comprehension. But it becomes clearer when we see this through the lens of the Spirit. 

One of the greatest ordination that occurred in creation was the induction of Man ( for clarity the term "Man" as used throughout this piece represents both male and female) as the governing authority over all things that were made. Man's appointment was based on a system of semblance. Gen 1: 26 " Then God said let us make man in OUR IMAGE, according to our LIKENESS; let them have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth".  Man was made in the express image and likeness of God. Not only was there a physical resemblance, but Elohim also desired a complete semblance such that in all realms man was made to rule just as ELOHIM is the ruler and creator of all things. Man was made to be a complete replica of God. So therefore, it became imperative that the dominion mandate be handed over to that creature that was in the likeness of ELOHIM; which was Man kind.

Therefore, you have a mandate to have dominion. It is better understood like this, a king's son is automatically destined to be a ruler. He has the biological and hereditary rights to ascend the throne after the reign of his father is over. That is his birthright. The pilgrimage of Jesus upon the earth was aimed to restore man from the great fallout from dominance into kingship.

But, permit me to say that there was a condition upon which man's dominance was enacted. Because Man was made in God's likeness, he had his dwelling in God's presence so it was seamless for both Adam and Eve to have fellowship with God, they were in complete sync with the presence of God. The condition upon which they had dominance was absolute surrender. Man was absolutely surrendered to God. He knew nothing but the presence. He abode, ruled, named and had dominion in the sphere of God's presence. 

Absolute surrender entails complete yielding to God. Sin on the other hand hinders absolute surrender to God because it functions on the strength of flesh, such that man begins to think of himself as the compass of his life. That was the message the serpent passed across to Eve in Gen 3:1-4. 

We can only enjoy the full benefits of our dominance on earth when we fully surrender and yield to God. We have to come to the point where our hearts are completely yielded to God, where it is no longer you that live, but Christ that lives in and through you Gal 2: 20. 

Do you want to live out God's plan for your life, the dominion mandate? Then completely surrender your will to Him. We have struggled for a long time to give Him all of us. Maybe He has control of part or even a lot but He needs full control of our lives, that is the only way we can find relevance upon the earth and fulfil purpose.

Have you surrendered all of yourself to the Lord? If you haven't , I encourage you to do so today. It's a life long decision. It is something to be done every moment.

God bless you.