"DAILY CLEANSING "
by Vicki Sturgill
One look at my dirty house
shoes told me that my house was dirty also. I had not worn them
outside. The tablecloth which lay on the dining room table looked dingy
even though no one had eaten at the table. We were in our third month
without rain. We wished for the Spring rains that should arrive within
the next few weeks.
The dust and dirt in the air are bad, but added to the frustration are
the almost daily fires on vacant lots and the mountains surrounding
Belo Horizonte. Two weeks ago the mountain in front of our church
burned. It was an awesome sight to see as the flames leaped many feet
in the air and gradually burned, from top of the mountain to bottom,
all the trees and vegetation in its path. Two days later as I entered
the church there were the tell-tale signs of soot and ashes which had
entered through every crack and crevice of the building. Hymn books,
Bibles, furniture–everything had to be cleaned.
I remembered the teaching I had given the new converts in our church as
they washed feet just a week earlier. Someone had asked why we washed
feet at church. I reminded them that Christ had given us the example as
he washed the disciples feet and then stated, “If I then,
have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one anotheŕs feet. For I
have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John
13:14,15,17). I also reminded them the lesson in humilty that Jesus
gave his disciples in verse 16 of the same chapter.
Then I gave the final reason we wash feet. It is a reminder to us that
we walk daily in a world contaminated with sin. Even though we do not
like to think about it, we DO sin daily and we need a daily cleansing
from our sins. We are so fortunate that I John 1:9 teaches us that even
as “little children” of Christ, we need to ask
forgiveness of our sins and are told that He is faithful and just to
cleanse us of our sins.
My houseshoes and tablecloth at home and even everything at church have
been washed. Have we had our hearts cleansed today?
12/01/2007
Vol.1 - No.5
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