June 8, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘This is what the LORD says: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,’ declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 66.1)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

Many of us “olders” remember the comedy series “Beverly Hillbillies.” As I read and reread today’s scripture for reflection, I couldn’t help but hear the last line of their closing theme song: “Kick your shoes off, stay a while.” What were they supposed to do while they “stayed” there? They were, according to the song, “Enjoy a heapin’ helpin’ of hospitality, Hillbilly that is.” Well, God is no hillbilly (He’s from Texas and not Tennessee…LOL), but the images parallel fairly well. God declares from a position of repose (seated on a throne in Heaven with His feet put up on the footstool of earth.) When Jesus entered the Jordan River where His cousin, John the Baptizer, was declaring and preparing for the “coming of the Kingdom of God,” John gave this reply. “I am not worthy enough to unstrap your sandals much less baptize you.” There is much being said by John’s declaration. When would someone take Jesus’ sandals off? Too wash His feet, of course. Simon the Leper, a Pharisee, forgot to administer this honor of being the master of his house when Jesus came to enjoy a heapin’ helpin’ of Simon’s hospitality. It would be done by an unexpected visitor, an unwanted visitor to Simon, who took an alabaster jar of nard (expensive and perfumed oil) and anointed the feet of Jesus’. John’s recognition of Jesus in that moment in the Jordan was bound in a time and season. It wasn’t as if Jesus and John had never met. We know of the birth narrative salutation as “John in Elizabeth’s womb leapt sensing the approach of Jesus in Mary’s womb.” It is said by some scholars that Jesus and John lived for a time in the Qumran community and studied the scriptures there. That community may have been one of the places where the Magi had come from. Now, upon Jesus’ thirtieth birthday, the age of becoming a rabbi, Jesus came to the Jordan River. His baptism served the function of authenticating John’s prophetic presence and to “fulfill all righteousness.” His baptism as the hand of the prophet would stand as a call to remember when Samuel the prophet anointed the shepherd boy of Jesse’s house, David. One of the titles given to the Messiah was “son of David.” It did not mean Jesus was the literal son of David but of the line of David and thus heir to the throne of Israel seated in Jerusalem. In that moment and season, John saw the fulfillment of the prophecies which he himself was a part of. He knew the importance of it all was about to come to pass. It was so overwhelming, he knew it was actually beyond his worthiness to touch the feet of the true Master of the Universe. Jesus, however, understood the importance of what was being done and what was yet to come. In order for God’s “will be done,” this moment had to become a reality. John did what Simon had refused to do even in his gratitude for being healed by the touch of the Master’s hand having been a Pharisee with leprosy. You see, sin is the greater disease because it true affliction is of the heart, mind and soul.

Do not be confused. God is not saying “we are beneath His feet.” He is speaking of the unity of “rest.” Heaven is the throne upon which He sits as Sovereign Lord God. All things answer to Him. Nothing has authority, being or purpose unless God has ordained it and ordered it to serve the greater purpose. It is about the unity of glory and majesty. It is about the purpose of life which is “for all things to work together for good.” That “good,” remember, is the will of God which reflects His authentic nature and character: God is LOVE! God’s greatest desire to for “love to abide and abound.” Love, authentic love, is the true prosperity of life. Sadly, that means there will always be something to serve as the contrast. What is the purpose of that contrast? It is to help remind and disseminate that which is authentically good from that which is authentically evil. We reflected upon that when speaking of God’s justice being the accountability to which all things are held. Even when the completion of all God’s work (which is the Sabbath) at the end is reached, there will still be the contrast as a reminder to all living things. The contrast might be characterized as “bane and blessing” or “righteousness and unrighteousness” or “eternal life in the presence of God and eternal life in the absence of the opportunity to be in the presence of God.” That, mighty ones of God is the difference between Heaven and Hell. To truly rest, as we began this reflection, is akin to putting one’s feet up as on a footstool. It is not demeaning but purposeful. Truly, we do not want to be in that place where God will finally and ultimately “put His foot down.” Remember from Isaiah 52.7 “How blessed are the feet of those who bring good news (i.e. the gospel truth.)” On the Sabbath, we all get to put our feet up and rest. It does not mean that is what we shall do all the rest of “our days” in Heaven. Far from it! We will continue to live in the harmony and unity of the “service of worship” to which we shall rise giving glory and honor to God the Father who empowered Jesus the Son to release the Holy Spirit of wisdom and truth among all living creatures (not those who are the living dead, mind you.) What a day of rejoicing that will be as we acknowledge that “there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain.” That day is coming, mighty ones of God, but it is not here yet. Let’s keep in harmony with the unity of body, mind and spirit so that the heart and soul of the Church which is the body of Christ shall be pure and ready when that day comes!

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free in Jesus’ name. AMEN.