John 13:5 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.
Lord, Thank You for helping me to see that I am like Peter and not in a good way. I, too, have trouble accepting, receiving Your love and grace. I feel I need to earn it in some way, to do something to be worthy of it, but that is not Your way. To fully be Your beloved child, I have to be willing to accept being served with the same grace that I accept serving others. That is really hard for me, and I’ve never seen the connection to pride involved here until this moment.
John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
It’s not lost on me, Lord, that Peter tries to dictate Your sacrificial service even in this supreme act of love by insisting that You wash not only his feet but all of him. I see myself in that action, too, Lord, when I try to tell You how to go about things. I don’t mean to imply conditional obedience or lack of humility, but I can absolutely see how those actions are still trying to maintain control. Forgive me.
John 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Lord, You’ve been working on my heart in the areas of pride and humility for a long time. Thank You for the deeper level of understanding that I have after today’s reading and studying. Root out all the pride in my heart, Lord, and help me to be only Your humble servant. Amen.
John 13:8-9 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Have a blessed day.