I don’t know if you’ve ever had the opportunity to participate in a foot washing, but it is a very humbling experience. I have been in church services where the pastors of the church washed the member’s feet and I have been on retreats, where the leaders of the retreat washed the feet of the participants.
I was in an intercessory prayer meeting a few months ago and the ladies leading our time of ministry felt called to wash the ladies feet who had attended. They put on some quiet music and asked that we take time in prayer to prepare our hearts for what the Lord wanting to do through this ceremonial act.
As the music began, I must have sounded like Peter as I began telling the Lord all of the reasons I felt unworthy of having my feet washed by these mighty women of God. The Lord informed me I couldn’t’ wash my own feet and they were dirty. I needed to be clean. He showed me there is nothing I can do myself to clean up to be presentable or worthy of such a humble act of love. It was then I realized I had to come to Him as I am, dirt and all, and He would wash me whiter than snow.
As the warm water poured over my feet and the tears poured down my cheeks, it became clear to me then He never calls us to clean ourselves up to come into His presence. He simply calls us to come. It’s not about us being worthy of Him washing our feet, but it is about Him being worthy of our obedience.
When we are obedient to the Father, we are in a position to receive great blessing. He desires our obedience more than sacrifice [Proverbs 21:3]. Do you need to be clean? “Peter said to Him, ‘Never shall You wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.'” [John 13:8]