Everybody gets morning breath - at least I hope they do. Otherwise, I have a serious problem. Morning breath is not delightful to say the least. Its unappealing, turns others away, and simply tastes disgusting. There is nothing like brushing your teeth in the morning - everything goes from stinky to fresh in a mere instance!
And, feet - don't get me started on feet. Some people have cute feet, others have weird feet. But regardless the kind, a sweaty foot in a tennis shoe without socks allows for a delightful, stinky mess. You know the smell. We've all smelled it - the locker room after a big game... stinky feet.
And, in all this stinky turmoil, did it ever occur to you that we are the equivalent of morning breath and stinky feet? We speak harsh, ugly things sometimes and delightful sweet things in a mere matter of seconds. We travel to church and we travel to places we shouldn't go. We carry the gospel and we carry the gossip. We are a living contradiction. A living representation of stinky feet and morning breath - a mere forgiveness and God's word away from experiencing yet another aroma disaster everyday.
In Isaiah 52:7, we read, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" You see, our feet don't have to be stinky - they can be used to promote and proclaim God! We need to watch our words and watch our deeds so that we too can hear that our words and deeds are "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (Phil. 4:13b).
So, next time you get up - use that morning breath as motivation. Get up and get in the word. Ask God to forgive you and to guard your speech - after all, our speech makes a lasting impact for or against Christ to those we daily encounter. And, after that big run... or simply after that stint in your leather sock-less shoes, remember the importance of your actions. Ask God to place you in situations where His word and His name will be glorified. After all, our purpose isn't to display the stench, but to provide a fragrant offering to Him.
"Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters..." Isaiah 55:1
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