“Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker” is a series of church worker wellness devotions. Visit lcms.org/wellness for more resources.
By Mary Moerbe, Lutheran author and pastor’s wife
Beautiful feet can still stink
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ ” (Is. 52:7)
As Christians and as church workers, we share the good news of Jesus. We may do it from a pulpit or from other “publishers” like the pew, the classroom, a conversation over dinner, etc., but we all find, sooner or later, that we are not as welcomed as Isaiah seems to suggest.
John the Baptizer calls Jesus “the One whose sandals I am unfit to untie.”
Still Jesus, the ultimate Bringer of Good News, anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18–19), was treated worse than smelly feet.
We have smelly feet. And, we often interact with people who stink.
Our relationships are tainted with misunderstanding, jealousy and bitterness. Even church workers can pew (P.U.) as much as we publish!
Thankfully, Jesus still doesn’t. He continues to give us the forgiveness He earned. He continues to wash and renew.
There is still good news for the poor, liberty to captives, sight for the blind, liberty to the oppressed and that miraculous gift of the Lord’s favor for the sake of His Son.
Only our Lord can take our feet, frailties and failings and make them beautiful. Thankfully, He will do precisely that for the wedding feast to come.
We may not like everyone who is invited to the feast, but all our wounds and weaknesses will be overcome. Not only our feet, but their feet will be pampered, pedicured and prepared for the real loving interactions that can be so distant from our sinful fallen ones.
Heavenly Father, prepare these days for me. Prepare me to interact with others, and, please, prepare them to interact with me! For only in Your mercy can any of us “spread the fragrance of the knowledge of [Your Son],” in whose name I pray. Amen.
Mary Jackquelyn Moerbe is an LCMS deaconess, writer, speaker, and homeschooler. She and her husband, Rev. Ned A. Moerbe, have six children and live in Oklahoma.
“Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker” devotions and prayers will be released Monday mornings on the LCMS Facebook and Twitter pages. Church Worker Wellness devotions will also be archived online.
LCMS church workers and their families are invited to offer encouragement to other workers and families by submitting a 500-word devotion for the Synod’s worker-to-worker wellness devotion series. Email questions and submissions to workerwellness@lcms.org.