Scripture
Our verse for today comes from John 13:10, ” Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ “
Background
We seem to have an unusual disdain for dirt in our house. Perhaps it’s not that unusual, and you might even do the same kinds of things in your home. We take our shoes off when we come in the house, and sometimes the kids will be dirty enough so that we’ll send them straight to the laundry room to undress, or even have them undress right at the back door. When I was younger and went to visit my sister, I used to think she was silly to have us all remove our shoes the first thing inside the house. But when you have to manage your own home full of kids and keep floors and carpets somewhat less than disgusting, it starts to make a little more sense. But what wouldn’t make sense, regardless of how many children were running around, would be to have everyone take a shower anytime they got their hands dirty or needed to wipe their face. Even for the freakish of the neat freaks, that would be overkill. But it is a good thing to head to the sink after you’ve potted a plant or eaten barbecue chicken or been playing with Play-Doh. Otherwise, the dirty hands can turn into a real mess, for you, your house, and anyone else around.
Application
And Jesus lets the disciples know that in the upper room. But His picture of rinsing off goes a little deeper than sticky barbecue sauce. He’s telling us that as followers of Christ, He has washed us good once and for all. But also as followers of Him, we need to wash our spirits when the soil of sin leaves its mark. It’s not only good, but it’s a necessary thing to keep the filth from sinking in further, damaging our fellowship with God and those around us. If we allow the smallest of spots to linger in our hearts, it has the ability to grow and do harm, even as we ignore it. Unlike our walk of faith that we feed with spiritual nourishment, the evil genius of sin is that it can prosper and flourish without any attention from us at all. Ignore it in our lives, and it can spread like a filthy oil spill.
So wash away whatever ill will that might be trying to sprout within. Confess to God and be made clean again.
Charge
As we seek Him today, admit to your Father where you are allowing sin to fester. Confess any sour spirit or point of contention in your life, and let His forgiveness wash you clean again.
Rich Holt / Originally Published on : BCWorldview.org
Also published on : Medium.com.
