Let me Wash Your Feet.
One day I was thinking of the story of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus. I was very moved by the story.
Every night before I go to bed I ask Jesus if I can wash His feet. One night He told me, "Rachelle,
you can wash my feet by washing the feet of others."
At first, I was a little perplexed. I imagined myself standing on the corner of a busy intersection with a bucket of water and a sign saying, "Let Me Wash Your Feet."
Hmmm. I thought, This is a bit much, Lord.... I don't think I have mustered up that level of courage just yet... I imagined cars passing by...yelling insults..thinking thoughts, like crazy Christian woman...
But then I thought about how such boldness could make people at least stop what they are doing and reflect for a least a few moments on Jesus. Who knows, maybe one day you will be driving along and see me washing someone's feet...leaned over with a bucket of water....sponge and all...scrubbing the dirt off bunyons.
I would do it for Him if He wanted.
I just had a very enteraining thought. Imagine a Christian National Footwashing Day..where all members of every denomination gathered thier buckets, thier sponges, thier oils and washed the feet of strangers.
The purpose would simply be to remind Christians that we are called to be humble. We are called to be lesser in the faith that we will more in the next Life.
We can store up our heavenly treasures by washing the feet of others.
I don't think Jesus was asking me to wash feet in a literal sense, but to humble myself in such a way that I remember to continually put myself last.
Another thing that moved me about the story is the fact that the woman who washed the feet of Jesus was a prostitute. Jesus didn't judge her. Instead He allowed her to perform the very personal act of washing His feet. He loved her.
How often do we cast our stones at people whose behavior we don't approve? In the past, people were condemed with actual stones. Today, we condemn with words.
Our stones are our words. Do we speak words of love and encouragement? Words that bring healing? Or do our words fly like stones that aim to "put people in their rightful place?"
Are our words nurturing? Will they help others find thier way and grow thier roots? Or are our words designed to hurt..to keep people's faces in the mud...to keep people with mouths full of dirt? Do our words reflect Christ? Or are the designed to feed the roots of darkness...feeding the infinite black holes of despair?
Luk 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Luk 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luk 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
Luk 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
Luk 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Luk 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luk 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Luk 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Luk 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luk 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luk 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luk 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luk 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
Luk 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Luk 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luk 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
Luk 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
Luk 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Luk 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luk 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Luk 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Luk 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luk 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luk 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luk 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luk 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
Luk 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
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