Burn the Shoes
"How beautiful and delightful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news of good things, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’"
— Isaiah 52:7 (AMP)
Let’s be clear about something—I do not have a foot fetish. Just wanted to get that out of the way before anyone gets distracted from the message. Honestly, I don’t think much about feet unless I’m on a 10+ mile run, and my body reminds me they exist, or when my daughters decide to paint my toenails. (Yes, I let them. No, I didn’t question my manhood—though I did pick green just to reassure myself a little. 😂)
But here’s the thing: God cares about feet.
Not in the pedicure-and-lotion kind of way, but in the movement-mission-unstoppable kind of way.
In Hebrew culture, feet symbolize action, mission, and power. The imagery in Isaiah 52:7 isn’t just poetic—it’s a battle cry, a prophetic declaration, and a gut-punch reality check for us today.
Feet on the Move—A Battlefield Announcement
When Isaiah wrote this, Israel was brutally oppressed—first by the Assyrians, and later by the Babylonians. The idea of “good news” (besorah, שְׂרוּרָה) wasn’t about personal blessings or a positive vibe—it meant divine deliverance from oppression.
For the Jewish audience, this verse would have painted an unmistakable image:
A lone messenger, sprinting across the battlefield, dust kicking up behind him. He’s coming from a war-torn land, bringing one message: Victory.
When a battle was won in ancient times, runners were sent ahead to proclaim the euangelion (Greek for "good news"—the same word later used in the New Testament for the Gospel). This wasn’t just news; this was life-altering, kingdom-shaking news.
The Jewish people would have heard Isaiah’s words as a prophecy of God stepping in to rescue His people and re-establish His reign.
Why the Mountains?
The reference to "mountains" wasn’t random. Zion (Jerusalem) sits on a mountain, and in Jewish thought, Zion was the place where heaven touched earth, where God's kingdom would expand to the nations.
So when Isaiah writes, "Your God reigns!" it isn’t just religious talk—it’s a direct challenge to every earthly power. It means:
🔥 Babylon doesn’t reign.
🔥 Assyria doesn’t reign.
🔥 Rome won’t reign.
🔥 Your fears don’t reign.
🔥 Your job doesn’t reign.
🔥 God reigns.
And this proclamation wasn’t just about the return from exile—it was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was the messenger and the message. He didn’t just bring good news—He was the Good News. He walked the mountains, the streets, the stormy seas—declaring a kingdom that crushes the fear of man.
Hidden Feet, Silent Gospel
Now, here’s where things get uncomfortable.
Isaiah says that the feet of the messenger are beautiful. Why? Because they are moving. They are carrying the message.
But today, too many Christians have amputated their own feet for the sake of comfort.
🔻 We hide our feet inside corporate shoes, afraid to step into confrontation because we might get fired.
🔻 We keep our feet locked in church buildings, hesitant to take Jesus outside where things get ‘messy’.
🔻 We sit on our couches, our feet propped up, scrolling through a world that’s desperate for salvation.
We’ve been paralyzed by the fear of what might happen if we actually walked into the places God called us to go.
🚫 What if my family doesn’t agree?
🚫 What if my boss finds out I’m a Christian?
🚫 What if I lose followers?
🚫 What if they reject me?
You know what’s worse?
💀 What if they never hear the gospel?
💀 What if no one tells them the truth?
💀 What if no one gets to experience the Creator’s love, mercy, and compassion through you?
The early church wasn’t afraid.
Paul walked into cities that wanted him dead.
Stephen preached knowing they’d stone him.
Jesus walked straight into His crucifixion.
But we hesitate at a tough conversation?
I fear that it will take real persecution in the West—the kind that comes with threats, suffering, and danger—for many believers to start taking their relationship with the true Authority over all evil seriously. However, I am hopeful we can just go deep together.
Never Finished Challenge—Burn the Shoes
🔥 It’s time to walk again.
🔥 It’s time to step into hard places.
🔥 It’s time to run with the gospel.
What does that look like?
✅ At work—be unashamed. Let people know who you follow.
✅ At home—don’t let the name of Jesus be a stranger to your children. Don’t hide your relationship with Him.
✅ In your city—treat every interaction as an opportunity no matter the ‘schedule’ you have.
The enemy isn’t afraid of a church that hides its feet—no matter its size.
In fact, he’s probably helping the churches that refuse to preach the Good News increase in size.
The enemy fears a church that runs with the message.
I want to challenge you: burn the shoes—the ones you hide behind. Walk barefoot into your calling.
I don’t mean literally (unless you’re into that kind of thing, no judgment), but spiritually.
👣 Walk like the early church walked.
👣 Walk like Jesus walked.
👣 Walk like someone who believes the Good News is actually good.
Because the world isn’t waiting for another nice Christian.
The world is waiting for a messenger with feet that move—feet that move with compassion, love, forgiveness, hope, justice, and authority.
And you will grow into this fire by consistently showing up—in the House of God, in your home, in your car, in your community—wherever you are, intentionally investing in your relationship with Him.
🔥 Next Steps—Ready to run 10 miles?! Just kidding. You share about your favorite sports team, movie, show, and drink with ease. Now, do the same with something that is a million times more valuable:
Do you see how this challenge fits today’s world?
Where is God asking you to step forward in boldness?
Drop a comment—let’s talk about it.
Your God reigns. Now go run. 🏃♂️🔥
What Does Today Say About God?
He reigns.
We may not be in exile, but in many ways, we are still bound—bound by distraction, fear, and apathy.
Yet despite my failings, God has called me to more and given me more of Him. And because He has drawn me in, my hunger for Him has only grown.
God is using so many of us around the world to reach you.
To reach and encourage me (Thank you, Frank Reed).
What a God.
What a Father.
What a Creator.
Thank you, Jesus.