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.” John 13:4-7 (NIV)
We've heard this story a million times it seems...every time I read it, it'd remind me how we need to be washed clean of our sins.
But this week, I noticed something different - the dirty feet. I'll admit - I was a bit grossed out. Have you ever worn sandals and walked around an area with a little dirt before? And have you ever taken a look at your feet at the end of the day? DISGUSTING!
That's NOTHING compared to the disciples. They had been walking around different towns with Jesus, in sandals I'd imagine, through the dirt, mud, rain. These were not the steets you and I are used to, friends.
But amidst the messiness, I heard God tell me, I love their dirty feet.
That's when I realized - Our feet should be so dirty from doing God's work, from walking with people IN THEIR MESS, that at the end of the day, they have to be cleaned.
I thought about my own feet. Are they dirty at the end of the day? Are they so full of grime and mud that I have no choice but to scrub away the dirt at the end of the day? Have I used them to do God's work?
Maybe being messy isn't such a bad thing after all.