When I was a kid my least favorite thing to do was take a bath. Anyone with me? Now there are times I can’t wait to get clean.
Our youngest has autism and while he is high functioning, He deals with different sensory issues. When he was little he hated being messy. If it involved putting his hands or any part of his body in mud, play dough, or picking up any kind of food you could forget it.
He has come a long way and loves playing with clay and loves planting things. What has changed is that he knows there is a way to get clean and being messy is only temporary.
The same is true for our lives. When you try to do things on your own it will always end up messier than if you had let Jesus take the wheel.
Jesus wanted to wash the feet of His disciples and Peter refused because he didn’t understand why Jesus, of all people, should be washing his feet. In Peter’s mind, Jesus should have Peter wash His feet instead.
This simple act was meant to teach them that only He could wash them clean and make them new. In the act of baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove and He went out to preach, teach, and heal people.
The same thing can happen to you and me when we let Him wash us and make us clean—starting fresh from the life we used to live for ourselves.
Once Peter understood why Jesus had to wash his feet, he wanted Him to wash his hands and head too if it meant He would be ready to do the work he was being called by God to do.
Are you willing to let God wash you clean so you can begin again with Him at the head of your life?
