Understanding The Meaning of FOOT

Before we are led into the meat of this week, that of observing, acknowledging and applying these facts in our daily following of Jesus, let us spend some time on the word FOOT. Foot, in the walk with Jesus is necessary and important, for how can we follow Him, if we have unclean feet? Unclean, dirty feet are disobedient feet, distracted feet, devious feet and more. 

The Word of God, tells us many things about our feet. We have been brought to meditate on a few of them. You need to understand that although the word before us is ‘foot’, we are speaking of our feet in general. When we speak of the foot for walking, we know that we mean our feet. Here are a couple common expressions. ‘Do not put your foot in that.’  Doesn’t it also mean not to walk into something or get involved with it? We also say, ‘She or he got off on the wrong foot this morning.’ Doesn’t its meaning include, beginning the day’s journey on the wrong note for example? The simple point is that the word FOOT, as will be found in our headings, the duration of the week, speaks to our feet.

Let’s refresh our minds with some of these Scripture verses, as we ponder awhile and receive Spiritual refreshment, nourishment and encouragement to seek and know these feet in Jesus.

Solomon’s wise counsel to us tells us this. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4: 26 – 27. ESV. Whether feet or foot, we are to shun the path of evil, so that our feet will be clean, before Father God.  

David, in speaking to God, says most truthful, from a clear conscience and a pure heart that his feet are clean. He is coming to Father God with clean feet and he knows that he will be heard and answered. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. Psalm 17: 5 ESV.  It is clear that David is saying that as long as a person stays firmly, resolutely and obediently following the Lord’s way, then his or her feet, will not falter. Feet are clean, when they are walking in the path of the Lord.

Habakkuk, one of God’s prophets is in prayer to God, the God about whose fame he has heard and now stands in awe before His deeds. In asking God to, Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known, he also confesses that God is his strength. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3: 19 NIV. God’s prophet knows the dire importance of feet in the Lord’s service. He lets us know that God is Creator and He who has created the deer, with feet to walk on the heights, can give the same strength and sureness of foot to His human servants. No high place, regardless of how precarious, is a stumbling block to feet which have been enabled by Sovereign, Father, Creator God.

Steady, strong feet, are clean feet.

Jesus spoke most clearly and positively, identifying a fact that many a Christian seems to either misunderstand deliberately, or interpret incorrectly. Let’s listen to these well-quoted, famous words of Jesus, which He speaks publicly and fearlessly, no fear whatsoever of being ridiculed, or being told that what He is saying is impossible for humans to know and have, in this life. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8: 12b NIV. One question and only one has faced me and I cannot respond. How is it possible for feet that are walking with Jesus, to be walking in darkness? What can I say? What can you say, when so many of us claim to be walking with Jesus, yet our feet are bruised and sore from bouncing, bumping into and falling over the objects in our path? Jesus boldly says that those who follow Him will never, yes, NEVER walk in darkness.

Clean feet will always have the Light of Life.

Jesus is washing the feet of His disciples, but Peter is resisting this action of service by his Lord. No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well! Jesus answered, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you. John 13: 8 – 10. It is clear that the feet of the followers of Jesus are dirty and must be washed.

Clean feet are the only feet that have a part with Jesus.

Having been given some enlightenment and insight into FOOT, we continue to look at where this is leading.