Chad and Jeremy, "You Need Feet"

During the dull days of winter, we could all use something to laugh at. Check out this song which British pop singers, Chad and Jeremy, sang. Listen to it here:

Scripture is filled with metaphors and similes about feet. For example, they made conquest possible. Like God promised  in Joshua 1:3 (Bible in Basic English), "Every place on which you put your foot I have given to you, as I said to Moses."

In ancient times, falling down at a person's feet meant surrendering to that one's authority. We see an example of that done in 1 Samuel 25:23 and 24 (BBE) when Nabal refused to reward David's men for protecting his sheep. "And when Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her ass, falling down on her face before him. And falling at his feet she said, 'May the wrong be on me, my lord, on me: let your servant say a word to you, and give ear to the words of your servant.'"

Furthermore, God used feet to dry up the Jordan river in Joshua 3:15 and 16 (BBE). "And when those who took up the ark came to Jordan, and the feet of the priests who took up the ark were touching the edge of the water (for the waters of Jordan are overflowing all through the time of the grain-cutting), Then the waters flowing down from higher up were stopped and came together in a mass a long way back at Adam, a town near Zarethan; and the waters flowing down to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were cut off: and the people went across opposite Jericho."

Washing people's feet was also a way to show hospitality in the Middle East. Jesus used it to show how we ought to serve others instead of boasting and thinking we deserve to be served. John 13:12-14 (BBE) reads, "Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, 'Do you see what I have done to you? You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another's feet clean."

Some churches figure that foot-washing is an ordinance but the context shows that Jesus used it to shame the disciples for their arrogance. May we all do acts of service to one another in the love of Christ.

If our Master doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about how this world isn't so beautiful to certain folks.

Saturday Song: Chad and Jeremy, "A Summer Song"

What a joyous and pleasure-filled time summer is. Even with the bugs and heat, we still enjoy being out and about as we cram in as much recreation into our days as we can.

One song which brings back the carefree days of summers is this one by Chad and Jeremy. Though there is the lament in the song of not wanting to see a friend go, it still paints images in my mind of people and parks.

Listen to this beautiful summer classic here.

Because we live in a fallen world, we experience a mixture of God's goodness and Satan's wickedness through his causing Adam and Eve to sin. Even so, Psalm 74:17 (BBE) declares, "By you all the limits of the earth were fixed; you have made summer and winter."

For residents of the Middle East, summer is a dry time. As David wrote during one of his dry times in Psalms 32:4 (BBE), in reference to being unforgiven, "For the weight of your hand was on me day and night; my body became dry like the earth in summer. (Selah.)"

Christ used the analogy of trees in summer to describe the time of his coming judgement on the world in Mark 13:28 (BBE) which reads, "Take an example from the fig-tree: when its branches become soft and put out their leaves, you see that the summer is near."

This is all the more reason that we must be diligent to rid ourselves of both sin and sloth. As Proverbs 10:5 (BBE) counsels us, "He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame."

Jesus was a wise son of his heavenly Father. He knew his time of ministry was limited. After answering his disciples regarding a blind man whom he healed, he said in John 9:4 (BBE), "While it is day we have to do the works of him who sent me: the night comes when no work may be done."

So we see that when good times come, we must make the best of them. Judgement is coming on this world and we've been tasked to warn people about it. If we don't, we're like that lazy farmer's son who goofed off during the harvest.

On Monday, I'll post about which religion is the peaceful one. Some atheists say that Christianity started most of the wars in history.