Psalm 119:59-60 - When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.
We can easily understand—from sad experience—how our eyes and hands lead us into sin. Our eyes may search out things that we should not see or read. Our hands can turn to stealing or to typing and texting hateful words and arguments. Jesus gives us a very serious warning about these dangers: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell ... And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell" (Mark 9:43, 47). Jesus also warns against sinning with our feet: "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell" (Mark 9:45). How do our feet lead us into sin? We do not always turn our feet to obey God's commands; we may even run the other way! Our feet may walk us into places and behaviors that are displeasing to God. Instead of hastening to obey God's commands, our feet may take us away from those who need our help and compassion.
The feet of Jesus our Lord always took Him along the path of obedience to His Father's will. Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, He hastened and did not delay to keep the commandments. His eyes and hands turned to acts of compassion and healing as His feet walked along dusty roadways, taking him among the people to whom He ministered. When the hour of His death came, those blessed hands and feet were nailed to the cross as Jesus bore the weight of our sins in His own body, including our sins of running from what is good and towards what is evil.
Our sins are washed away in Jesus' blood and now we follow Him, led by the Holy Spirit to carefully place our feet into the footprints of our Savior. With eyes and hands and hearts and feet, we turn to others in compassion and care. We walk alongside those who are troubled and anxious, bringing to them the comfort of God's Word. Our beautiful feet take us to people who need to hear the Good News of Jesus (see Isaiah 52:7). Our feet carry us as we go about our daily callings, serving our Lord by serving others in love. Moved by the Spirit of God, we hasten and do not delay to follow God's will and keep His precious commands. The way before us is clearly marked: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Do not delay!
WE PRAY: My God and Savior, turn my feet and hands and heart to obey Your commandments. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. We all have weak areas and blind spots in our obedience to God? How do you address those?
2. Turning our feet to God's testimonies—what do you think that means?
3. How can we lovingly help others who fall down in their faith walk?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Kings 17-18 Galatians 4
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