Read Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-46, and John 12:1-11.
In the early days of our work in Southeast Asia, we were taught “feet etiquette.” In a land where everyone leaves their shoes outside, we were taught to never show our feet in public! This cultural tradition makes me think of two things—Mary of Bethany and feet.
These Scriptures in the gospels of Luke and John document portions of Mary’s life and have a common thread—Jesus’ feet— that illustrate our spiritual walk. In the first story, Mary is the hungry disciple. In the second, she’s the disillusioned disciple. In the final story, Mary is the worshipping disciple. Our spiritual lives tend to mirror these stages. We learn by sitting at His feet, we’re tested while crying at His feet, and we worship when we anoint His feet.
“Either we will live under a cloud of despair, believing that God has abandoned us [...] or we will live with hope, even in the midst of pain, knowing that a good and loving God has marked out the race we are running. He has done it for our good and his glory.” –Carolyn Custis James
Father, we’re grateful for Scriptures that we can relate to as we walk with You. In every season—good or bad—remind us that You are working for our good and Your glory. Amen.
-written by missionaries to Southeast Asia
Field Worker
East-West's missionaries and national partners are stationed in nearly 50 countries around the world that are categorized as unreached or restricted access. For security reasons, we do not disclose their identities.