Encouragement for Today - Jan. 3, 2008

January 3, 2008

Cleansed by Grace

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleans us from al unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9NKJ).

Devotion:

When you step into a mud puddle, do you become mud or muddy? You become muddy. You don’t turn into the substance of mud. You simply get a little dirty. It’s nothing that a foot washing can’t cure.

Likewise, once you and I have been cleansed from our past, present, and future sins through Jesus Christ, we become a clean, brand new person. Once in a while, we’re going to trip up and step into sin, but that doesn’t mean we become the old person that we once were. No, it means we simply need a foot washing.

Remember that sacred night after supper when Jesus took a towel and began washing the disciple’s feet? Peter was appalled! He couldn’t conceive why Jesus would stoop to a servant’s job and wash his feet. Yet, in those days, it was customary for the host to wash the feet of their guest as an act of love. While Jesus was modeling love along with humble service, His actions also symbolized daily spiritual cleansing.

Jesus explained to Peter that without cleansing no one could have a part of Him (John 13: 8). Desiring Jesus above all, Peter preferred not only his feet to be washed, but his entire body as well. Yet, there was no need, for Peter had already been made clean. He only needed to wash the day’s mud from his feet. Through this humble display, Jesus reveals to us a beautiful example of how we can be cleansed by grace as we daily confess our sins.

Sometimes though, we often experience shame when we sin against our Savior causing us to yearn for cleansing all over just as Peter did. However, Jesus is there to remind us that His grace is sufficient. There is no commendation for those who have been washed in His blood, forgiven by grace, and kept by the power of His love.

Not only do we need a daily foot washing, our brothers and sisters do as well. Often when we’ve been sinned against, we want to sling mud at that person. Instead, we should offer them the same love, humble service, and grace that we have received.

Daily, we should wash one another’s feet in the pool of forgiveness. Feet that have been washed by the Savior are feet that will run swiftly to wash another’s. For how can we condemn our brothers and sisters when we, too, have stood in the same mud puddle?

Once you and I have been cleansed through salvation, it never needs repeating. On occasion, however, we may need to purge a little mud. Still, as we agree with God about our sin, Jesus, in an act of love, takes a towel and a handful of grace and kneels to wash our feet. John promises us in our key verse “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleans us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJ).

Dear Lord, open my eyes so that I can perceive the Your grace that You freely lavish upon me daily. Then, Lord, by the same token given to me, help me dispense Your grace upon others as well, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Visit Micca’s Blog

Micca Campbell's Testimony DVD

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:

Wash someone’s feet today by offering him or her forgiveness.

Reflections:

Are you free from self-condemnation?

Are you allowing Jesus to wash your feet through daily confession?

Are you quick to forgive others as you have been forgiven?

Power Verses:

Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (NIV).