Isaiah 52:7 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!”

I have sung this verse so many times that it had almost lost its impact for me, and that’s not a good thing. The thrust of the verse is something Christians can tend to forget, and that is that the Gospel is indeed really good news. That is of course what “gospel” means, or at any rate the Greek evangelion from which it is translated. This news is so good that it makes even the feet of those who proclaim it seem beautiful! The road walked by such people isn’t necessarily easy; here it says “on the mountains.” However, news so good is worth going to some trouble to share. It is news of peace and salvation, but those come about because God reigns, He is the King and ruler. Those who will receive the good news must do so in submission and obedience to God. This is a stumbling block for many, because they don’t even like the sound of the word, submission. We want to be saved, to enjoy the blessings reserved for God’s children, but we don’t want to submit to anyone or anything. Sorry, it doesn’t work like that. God desires good things for His children, but rebellion against Him has unpleasant consequences. God isn’t mean to us, that’s just the way the universe operates, just like there are physical laws such as Newton discovered. For someone stuck in those unpleasant consequences, the Gospel should be good news indeed! Jesus said, “Repent (of rebellion, of unbelief) and believe the good news.” (Mark 1:15) It’s interesting to think of how Jesus’ feet were treated: washed with tears and anointed with perfume, (Luke 7) nailed to a cross, and then grabbed (Matthew 28:9, John 20:17). They were beautiful indeed!

I have committed myself to be a bearer of the good news of the kingdom of God, and it is a truly blessed profession. However, if I am to be effective in transmitting the good news, I must apply it fully in my own life. That is, I must choose to obey God in all He says to me, trusting that He knows what is best for me and that He desires it for me as well. I desire that those around me receive the Gospel for the good news that it is, so my life should reflect how good it is. My focus is to be on Christ and His kingdom, which means giving Him priority in everything. Only then will my feet start to look good!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the joy of seeing people receive the Gospel in truth. I’d like to have that joy a bit more often! I pray that I would never give up, but rather meet all of the appointments You set up for me, knowing that Your plans are good, and that You will use even such a person as I am for Your purposes and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!