The Blacklist
Pt. 5 - Foot Loose
I. Introduction
Lists are a part of life. Lists on paper. Lists on your phone. Lists are supposed to keep us ordered. Lists represent what we believe are important or at least what we don't want to forget or overlook. I think that is why this list we have been examining is so important. Most of us don't even know it exists. It is a list we need to know about so that we make sure that we avoid it at all costs . . . God's Blacklist! Solomon takes the time to put the list in writing so that we won't overlook it and realize just how important it is to know.
II. Text
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Solomon using strong language, dropping the "H" Bomb says that God hates six things and then adds a seventh thing that is detestable.
We dealt with proud eyes, lying, and heavy hands and a heart that devises wicked schemes. Eyes, tongue, hands, heart and now feet. Solomon states that God hates it when we use our feet to rush quickly into evil. He makes it clear that it isn't enough to only monitor what we say and see but we must also be diligent about where we step!
We should have a foot fetish!
Most people I know think feet are ugly. Think about it. Feet are constantly exposed to dirt. Feet are the place of contact with the mire, dust, and muck that we walk through daily. So, we often spend our time thinking about more glamorous parts like our hands, our mouth, or our mind. But the writers of Scripture encourage us to have a foot fetish! When you do even a quick study of Scripture it is apparent that our feet are extremely important.
Last week when talking to you about our heart I mentioned that Solomon addressed the heart in Proverbs 4. Low and behold he also addresses feet in Proverbs 4:26-27. He said, "Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Solomon is literally saying that the direction of our feet determine the direction of our soul!
His father before him, David, also had a foot fetish. In fact, David begins the Psalms talking about feet! Psalms 1:1 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Psalms 37:23 - The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.
Steps of righteous man are ordered so if our feet run to evil, then we must intentionally choose a different path from the one chosen for us by God.
Ephesians 5:8, 15-16 "for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. "
1 John 1:6-7 - "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Our walk validates our witness! The power of the Roman's Road can be negated by the power of our road! Our walk should demonstrate the light change in us!
Our choice with our feet is crucial because if we walk or sprint off the right path then it is just a matter of moments before we are far away from the ordered and protected path. We need to refocus on our feet! We don't pay enough attention to our path!
We learned this as kids in booster band . . .
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go.
Yet as adults we seem to allow our feet to run wild. Yes, some of us talk ourselves into trouble. However, I think more of us, intentionally and some unintentionally, walk our way into trouble even quicker!
Solomon and others are adamant that where we go is absolutely important and has a direct effect on whether or not we are established, avoid sin, blessed, are able to effectively witness to those around us about what has happened in our soul!
However, there is another truth contained in what Solomon said about our feet in this list . . .
Pace reveals Place!
He says God hates it when feet are quick to run to evil. No hesitation, a dash to do evil reveals our spiritual condition. No slow down. Quickly! In other words, Solomon knew that pace reveals place.
Some of us run more quickly towards evil than we run away. We are told to flee (which carries with it a sense of urgency and almost a panic in it) the very appearance of evil. Not hang out to see how close we can stay without drifting into sin.
We were shown by Joseph what the appropriate response is to temptation. Elbows and tennis shoes. Yet it seems to me that our pace of fleeing has slowed down.
We hang out on the channel a few seconds longer.
We keep the conversation going a few days more.
We harbor the feelings a few extra weeks.
We make another pass by the desk.
We march around the bitterness another decade.
Our pace in response to opportunities to involve ourselves in evil reveals our place in our relationship with Jesus!
How many of you know that if you are really as close to Jesus as we pretend we are on Sundays, then our pace in our approach to evil would slow way down?
Our feet, more than our mouth, gives the most accurate glimpse of our place with Jesus. Remember actions speak louder than words. We say the right thing and go the wrong places. We declare the right attitude and respond entirely different. Our walk is something we can't run from! Unless our walk lines up with our words then it is nothing but cheap talk.
Said as bluntly as I know how to say it . . . many of us invalidate our claims of relationship by the way we walk.
David said it like this, "The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip." Psalms 37:31.
Your feet reveal your faith. Your toes tattle on you! I am very concerned that everyone is way to foot loose!
III. Close
Where are your feet taking you? What does your pace in regards to evil say about you? Are you quick to run to anger? Are you quick to run to sin? Are you quick to run to revenge?
