Sophia...God's Teacher Sent For Me

On Sunday morning I got up at 5 am so that I could go to the church and have quiet time with God and prepare for the day.  In the meantime Jenny was amazing because she took the time to give Sophia a bath because we had let time slip away the night before.  That day went quite well and we were able to start Holy Week off quite well.

That evening we went over to my in-laws home and had dinner with them.  Afterwards, Jenny and her mom took Sophia to the nearby park to play while her dad and I talked about books that we had been reading lately.  Eventually they came back and like we left to go home at about 8 so that we could get Sophia down by 8:30. 

When we got back Jenny washed Sophia’s hands from playing in the park and I got her into her pajamas.  As Jenny began nursing her before putting her down for the night she remembered that she had forgotten that Sophia hadn't been wearing socks at the park.  As a result, her feet were pretty dirty.  So I got a wipe and began to clean my little girl’s feet.  

While doing this the Holy Spirit brought to mind how on the night of Jesus’ betrayal He washed His disciple’s feet.

                                                

 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”” (John 13:3–11, ESV)

  

The reason why I told you the story with this passage is that Sophia is my child there is nothing that will ever change that fact (even stinky feet).  Similarly when Jesus told Peter that he was already clean, He was making a similar statement.  Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord & Savior we have been cleansed by His blood and will never need to be completely cleansed again. 

However, that does not mean that our sin nature has been completely eradicated.  We are still prone to get a little dirty because we live in a fallen world.  So as we walk through this world we are bound to get a little sand on our feet.  So we need to approach Jesus and both ask and allow Him to clean the dust of this world off our feet.  This is the process of sanctification.  The process of slowly but surely looking more and more like Jesus as we grow our relationship with Him.

So, when you sin take it to Jesus for He is faithful to wipe you clean.  And when someone does wrong to you don’t be afraid to go up to them in love and offer forgiveness and cleansing to them.  Because Jesus does this for us we need to be willing to do this for others in our life.

Lastly, if you have children in your life and you hear God speak to you, don’t forget to share it with them.  These are excellent teaching moments that God gives you as a parent.  Even if you don’t do it in the moment don’t be afraid to come back to it and explain to them what God said to you.  If you don’t share God with them…who will?