Christian Mission Outreach

“Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool - He is holy.” (Ps. 99:5)

 Worshipping at His footstool is worshipping at His feet which rest on the footstool. The woman who broke her Alabaster jar over Jesus worshiped and wept at His feet, wiping them with her hair. Jesus commended her great love for Him, knowing that she had been forgiven much. Haven’t we all had much for which we have needed forgiveness, for things we have done or failed to do? As David said, all sin ultimately displeases God.

“Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” (Ps. 51:4)

 Ruth slept at the feet of Boaz at the threshing floor in the hope that he would see her and choose to become her kinsman redeemer. Martha’s sister Mary loved to sit at the feet of Jesus, perhaps at His footstool, listening to Him teach. Mary of Bethany is the woman, or one of the women, who broke her Alabaster jar anointing Jesus with a costly ointment. Judas thought it was a waste of money, but Jesus, our kinsman Redeemer, took notice of her and defended her.

 A Steve Green song about her impacted me when my husband was wasting away from cancer. It had words like, “Broken and spilled out just for love of you Jesus,” and spoke of how He was broken and had spilled out His blood, the costliest treasure of all, for love of us. Let us pour out our love for Him and the treasure He has invested in us even if others think it a waste of time or money. That is worship – wherever it is done.

 The Ark of the Covenant upon which the Presence of God would rest had been housed in the tent that Moses was instructed to build, and later in David’s tent. David wanted to build a more permanent “‘house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations for it,’” (1 Chron. 28:2) not realizing the value of a moveable tent. However, God is rebuilding David’s tent in the spiritual - the body of Christ. There, if we are willing, the laws, presence and glory of God can rest on and within us by His Holy Spirit. Let us humbly prepare our hearts, becoming His footstool ready for private and corporate worship at His feet.

“The LORD said to my Lord,

‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’…

Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” (Ps. 110:1-2)

 The Father puts the enemies of Jesus under His feet. That includes all people. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:23-24,) We have a choice – to serve the devil or Jesus, to receive God’s wrath or His mercy. “He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.” But the people following Jesus “shall be volunteers in the day of Your power.” (Ps. 110:5, 3) We can choose to let God humble us, but it is far better to humble ourselves in His sight, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” He will lift us up in His timing.

“Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Pet. 5:7, 5; Ps. 2:10-12)

 John the Baptist called us to humility,

“‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low;

The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:4-6)

 Jesus is God and equal to God. Yet He is a model of humility, submitting His will to the Father’s and giving Him the glory He deserves, even at Gethsemane. Likewise, bowing your will to the Father’s is humility. To be Jesus’ disciple, “‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” (Luke 9:23)

 The whole earth is God’s footstool. (Matt. 5:35; Acts 7:49) We cannot confine God to be in only one place. He is a big God. We are created of the earth’s dust into which God breathed the breath of life. After conquering us, God wants to breath into receivers the breath of spiritual life – His Holy Spirit. All creation is to be under His feet, under His dominion. Let us humbly submit to Him lifting up our hands; raise the white flag and surrender, for “He is holy!”

 The Lord instructed me to make a pair of large white banners called: “Salvation through the blood.” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins, though scarlet, can be washed white as snow. God wants us to prepare a resting place, a dwelling place within each of us – His temple. When our old man, His enemy, is under His feet, His new life in us can flourish. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) We can worship at His feet like Mary, listening with a teachable spirit, deciding to follow Jesus – no turning back. He is trustworthy.

 Another word for worship is service. We are commanded not to worship or serve idols. “‘You shall not bow down to them nor serve [worship] them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.’” (Gen. 20:4-6)

 Instead of curses for disobedience coming down our generational line, His blessings can flow for many generations when we cast down our idols and worship God alone. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

 “Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy.” (Ps. 99:3)

Since God’s name is who He is, part of worshiping at His feet is singing praises to His holy name.

“Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord, nor are there any works like Your works.

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.

 For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name. [No double-mindedness.]

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.

For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Ps. 86:8-13)