Yesterday we talked about our Christian walk being like a marathon. One of the things that keep us going are our feet. As I was out for a run I was thinking about how easily our feet can fail us when we are trying to move. Ironically the song Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now, by NeedtoBreathe came on. In it they sing “I pray my feet don’t ever slow me down”. I have always thought Jesus had talked to his disciples about this during the last supper.
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.” John 13 6-7
If you take the time to read the whole exchange Peter goes on to say, “hey if your going to wash my feet why not my whole body.” Jesus understood that as we walk through life or run our feet collect dirt (sin), it happens. I believe what Jesus was telling Peter, his other followers, and even us today is that we must daily clean our feet. A symbolic means of saying “I know I have sinned along the way but cleanse me and help me to continue running forward in the race.” Our bodies where already cleaned when we accepted Jesus gift of salvation. Unless we seriously trip and fall in a mud puddle, we only need to worry about our feet.
All to often we neglect this daily cleaning. Some have come to believe one and done. I have accepted Christ once and all my sins are cleansed and I can now do whatever I want and it is forgiven. Many have figure that this isn’t what Christianity is about. We don’t lose our salvation when we sin, we can all agree on that, but sin slows us down it hinders who we want to be.
We need to clean it off, before it becomes overpowering. How many influential Christians have fallen because sin has crept into their lives? They didn’t jump into sin, most just started getting their feet dirty, left it and eventfully it crept up their legs slowing them way down like mud caked on boots.
So where is your passion for sharing the faith? Passion for loving the loveless? Passion for the lost? Passion for the church? Passion for Jesus?
Maybe it is time to humble yourself and ask Jesus to wash off your feet which have become filthy. Daily ask him to wash your feet, this is humbling but also is an awesome time to grow your relationship with Him. Asking him to renew your passion for the mission and the calling he has for you. There is no dirt to caked on that Jesus can’t remove. He can make refresh your life and ignite your passion.
Father, many of us are running the race with our feet full of dirt. This causes us to stumble and eventually fall. You said you would wash our feet, wash me feet Jesus. I want to be running in your strength, towards the mission you have given us to reach and disciple the lost. Ignite my passion for you, ignite my passion for the lost, ignite my passion for the church, let my life be an example of your love in this race. I want to love others as you love them. Amen
50 Days of Pray 