Sunday Devotion- Talk to the foot

Janet Rubin

My seven and nine year old daughters, Cassidy and Chloe, really look up to their seventeen-year-old sister, Chelsey. What's not to admire? Chelsey can drive. She can make her own hot chocolate. She wears make-up. And she's fun.

Last night I had to laugh as I chauffeured the girls home from Awana and youth group. Cassidy and Chloe sat in the middle seat of the minivan and Chelsey in the far back. Next thing I knew, I could see Chelsey's bare foot (a.k.a. Mr. Foot) in my rear view mirror. I can't remember when the tradition started, but every now and then, on particularly long or boring rides, Chelsey's foot pops up to have a "talk" with Cassidy and Chloe, an event that always has them giggling. For some unknown reason, Mr. Foot speaks with an English accent.

Mr. Foot started off last night saying, "Hello, Chloe and Cassidy. What did you do today?" (toes wiggling as he...er...spoke.)

After telling Mr. Foot about their adventures of the day, the little girls asked how his day was.

"Well, first I walked Chelsey down to the bus stop and had to get wet in lots of puddles..." Mr. Foot went on to tell about spending Algebra class tapping the floor in boredom, about the unpleasantness of stepping in something sticky, and of the glorious feeling of freedom he has when Chelsey wears flip flops and he can "breathe".

Okay, so chatting with Mr. Foot is just silly (and a little weird). It's sister-bonding. We wouldn't normally talk to a foot.

But there are feet we should be intimate with. Two thousand years ago, those in need...those wanting to show love and gratitude...those needing healing and salvation...those just wanting to learn...sought out those feet:

Mark 5:22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet.

Mark 5:33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

Mark 7:25In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

Luke 7:37-39 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 10:39She [Martha] had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

And in order to meet all those needs, those feet were nailed to a cross:

Luke 24:39-40 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

Before He died, Jesus gave us an object lesson, showing us the kind of regard we should have for one another:

John 13:5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13:14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

And after he ascended to heaven:

Ephesians 1:22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.

And because of all we have received and the work that's left to be done, God has special instructions for our feet:

Romans 10:15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Lord, We fall down at your precious nail-scarred feet, that trod on the earth and walked the hill to the cross. We come to you for healing and forgiveness and just to sit in your presence and learn. Let us kneel at your feet remembering who we belong to and learning humility. Use our feet for your purposes. And help us to remember to bow to wash one another's feet. Amen