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!”

This is a very famous verse, set to music numerous times and often used in speaking of evangelism or missionary work. All of that is well and good, but we need to think about what it really means. The actual message is, “Your God reigns.” For someone who doesn’t believe God exists, that’s meaningless. For someone whose concept of God is a vengeful tyrant, that’s not good news at all. This is a message to Zion, that is, the people of God. It’s easy to talk to people who already have at least a somewhat Biblical concept of the Creator, which is why Paul in his travels always started at the synagogue. Sadly, when the Gospel conflicted with their expectations or traditions, some of those people rejected him and his message. The same thing happens today. When a genuinely Biblical message is proclaimed, only some people will welcome it. That may be from their background, or more often from the personal state and attitude of their soul. Someone who is fixated on doing what they want to do, being in charge of their own life, isn’t going to rejoice at being told that God’s in charge of everything. Proclaiming the Gospel can invite a lot of rejection! This isn’t a task to be taken up lightly, but it is one that, fully executed, brings joy and satisfaction that can be had no other way.

I’ve been reading Frank Viola’s The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, and I’ve been really struck by how long it took people to get anywhere, because they had to walk, or at best, take a sailing ship. At that rate it would take me a full day to get to Nagasaki City, and I’m a fast walker. It makes me think of the 26 Martyrs, who were walked down from Kyoto before they were crucified in Nagasaki. That took a long time! That explains the reference to feet in this verse, because feet were essential in spreading any kind of news. We live in a completely different universe, with instantaneous electronic communication to almost anywhere in the world, and we have trouble relating to life at “walking speed.” I live and minister in a place where the majority of people have no intellectual or emotional foundation for receiving the Gospel. Buddhism was originally ethics without a God, and Shinto is gods without ethics. Neither one gives a foundation to rejoice at the news that “Your God reigns!” I’ve got to start with the news that we are created beings and there is indeed a Creator, who happens to care very deeply about us. When that message manages to sink in, by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, there is indeed transformation and great joy. I’m never to give up, but I’ve also got to remember that I can never accomplish this task in my own strength and wisdom. However, as God told Jeremiah, nothing is too difficult for Him. (Jeremiah 32:27) I am to walk (!) in full obedience, not trusting myself but trusting God fully, so that His will may be done regardless of the circumstances.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the opportunities You give me to share Your Good News with people, and for how hearts actually are changed. I pray that in every encounter You have planned for today that I will be fully available and yielded to You, so that Your words through me may accomplish everything for which You send them, (Isaiah 55:11) for people’s salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!