Faithful feet

Faithful feet

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105-114

 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

 106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

 107 I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised.

 108 LORD, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations.

 109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

 111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

 112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.

 113 I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions.

 114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

Happy Feet is a 2006 computer-animated musical comedy film directed, produced, and co-written by George Miller. It stars the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, and Hugh Jackman. It is a movie about emperor penguins, who find their soul mates through song. Every emperor penguin sings their unique song called a “Heartsong” to attract a mate. If the male penguin’s Heartsong matches the female’s Heartsong, the two penguins become mates. Norma Jean lays an egg, which is left in her mate Memphis’ care, while Norma Jean leaves with the other females to fish. Memphis briefly drops the egg. The resulting chick, Mumble, is born with a terrible singing voice, he can barely sing at all. But worse yet he does n have a Heartsong. Without a Heartsong, Mumble may never make and find true love.

However, remarkably Mumble can tap dance. None of the penguins had ever seen tap dancing before. Mumble’s dad, Memphis, says it “just ain’t penguin.” When Mumble becomes a young adult, he is frequently ridiculed by his elders. Mumble is just too different – especially for Noah the Elder, the stern leader of the empire penguins. He ejects Mumble out of the community.

Mumble befriends a group of Adelie penguins called “the Amigos,” who embrace Mumble’s dance moves and welcome him into their group.

Soon it is mating season and Mumble falls in love with Gloria. Having no Heart Song, Mumble begins tap dancing in synch with Gloria’s song. She falls with him and they join together singing and dancing to “Boogie Wonderland.”

The naysayers took their stand, Happy Feet “just ain’t penguin.”  Happy Feet just don’t belong. But what about Faithful Feet?

What are Faithful Feet? They are feet that are guided by the Word of God and follow the right path. Children of the King should have Faithful Feet. Faithful Feet should be one of their primary qualities. But alas, Faithful Feet are almost as rare as Happy Feet are among emperor penguins. Just because some of us begin life a little cracked, that will never stop us from acquiring Faithful Feet. But it is our decision to make. We have to want Faithful Feet and pursue them.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Left to ourselves, we often don’t know which way leads to life and which way ends in death; we remain in the dark. But God’s Word provides us with a searchlight to cut through the darkness and lead us to safety” (Stanley).

Father, deep in my heart I long to follow You and live by Your Word. I made plenty of mistakes and fail, I long to get this right. Guide me one step at a time.
INSIGHT

In the Old Testament, life is envisioned as a path that people follow. How do children of the King follow the path that the Father has for them? The Father has provided the word of God as our guide.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

The fallen world in which we live is dark (John 1:5; 3:19; 12:46). How can we see our way in the darkness “Only God’s light can guide us aright. Obedience to the Word keeps us walking in the light” (Wiersbe).

Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is simply darkness. It never varies. Darkness continues when there is no light present. However, with a mere hint of light, a dark place is no longer dark. The greater the light the less the darkness.

The ancient world did not have lights such as we have today. In their place, the people carried little lambs containing oil. The lamps were small clay dishes that looked like flattened teapots. They contained a small wick and their light shone ahead in the darkness. With each step forward, the light moved forward. But, the light illuminated the path only one step ahead. Because of the darkness, the route ahead in the distance could not be seen. Consequently, those that ventured out at night, walked very circumspectly and slowly in order not to venture off the path.

This is how the Father intends for us to walk through life by faith, one step at a time. Each step of obedience, walked off by Faithful Feet illuminates the next step. Slowly but surely children of the King Arrived at their intended locations along the way that the Father desired.

The word of God is a light that illuminates the path of life. It provides information and guidance for children of the King to know how to live.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119 is Hebrew poetry. Hebrew poetry rhymes thoughts, not sounds. Thus my feet and my path are understood as synonymous or parallel thoughts. They refer to proper behavior, conduct, and a way of life for every child of the King. The word God provides the truth needed for good moral decisions.

Faithful Feet are illustrated in the following prayerful words:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.”

“But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.”

“Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone” (Thomas Merton).

Sometimes children of the King have Fearful Feet rather than Faithful Feet. But as we walk through life following the word of God, our fear diminishes our faith grows. First, we decide to want Faithful Feet. Then we take the next step start walking in submission and obedience to the word of God.

Do you walk in faith or fear? They are mutually exclusive.

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