Monday September 6, 2021

Today is Monday, September 6 and this week we are exploring how restoration is God’s deepest desire for us.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly. Breathe, just breathe. I center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Come Holy Spirit, I have come here today to hear a word from you, God. Speak to my heart and my mind in the name of Jesus Christ. Speak words of life. Amen.

Today, I join the people of God and praise Him for His steadfast, tender, patient love for me with the words of Psalm 51.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51: 2-4,7

Pause and Pray

The night before Jesus went to the cross, he gathered for a final meal with his disciples and he washed their feet. In ancient times, people walked miles a day in simply constructed sandals on dirt pathways strewn with grit, grime, garbage and refuse. When a person arrived at someone’s home to dine, it was customary to clean the filth from their worn-out, tired, dirty feet. This was a lowly task, reserved for the most humble servant. Yet, Jesus, before he went to Golgotha chose to perform this loving act for his followers.

So he got up from the meal; took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” John 13:4-9

As the filthy dust and grime clung to the feet of ancient followers of Jesus, so the filth of my sin clings closely to me (Hebrews 12:1). In order to be in relationship with a holy God, I must be bathed and made clean. Just as Jesus restored the emaciated skin of lepers to be like the soft velvety skin of an infant, Jesus has the power to cleanse my sin and make me brand new. No matter the depth of my transgressions or length of my trespasses, when I come to Jesus in sorrow, repenting of my sins, He will wash away my iniquity and make that which was once scarlet, whiter than snow (Isaiah 1:18). Just as Peter was initially embarrassed to display his disgusting feet to his Lord Jesus, I may be reluctant to disclose the ugliness of my sin to a holy God. However, revealing sin is the first step to confession, repentance, cleansing and ultimately restoration.

Ask: Holy Spirit, please show me the sin in my life which needs to be revealed so that I can confess it before God, be cleansed and made new.

Holy Lord Jesus, I confess that I want to hide the ugliness of my sin from myself, You and others. You wait patiently for me, towel wrapped around your waist, water poured into a basin, kneeling at the base of my sinfulness. There is nothing I can hide from you. You are already aware of everything I have done and all I have left undone. You have seen where I have trespassed bringing harm to myself and others. Lord, I surrender to You. I read the words from John again and seek your direct message for me today.

Ask: What word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage?

So he got up from the meal; took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” John 13:4-9

I reflect on Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and I imagine my life’s greatest sins, failures and transgressions exposed. I need to take a good hard look at the ugly grime covering my feet, but I would rather hide them. I consider what my dirty feet represent in my life, looking back over the past, remembering the ugly places I have walked over the years. I hear the sound of water pouring from a pitcher. I see the nearly full basin Jesus holds in his hands. The water is cool, fresh, pure and clean. What will the water that Jesus offers do for me? For my life, my soul and my salvation?

Pause and Pray

Powerful, risen Lord Jesus, thank you for wanting me to have a part with you. Thank you for loving me so much that you are willing to wash away all my iniquity, so that I can be restored to life with You. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Cleanse me – all of me, not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well. Amen.

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-3

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I walk with fresh feet, cleansed by the grace of Jesus Christ. Lord, let me walk with Jesus and enable me to be His hands and feet bringing Your love to a broken and hurting world. Amen.